By Dianne Anderson
Depending on the topic, Tracy Prince notices how some of her young customers get agitated in the queue. That’s when he sees the problem and sets out to tackle some of the telltale signs head on.
“The next thing you know, someone’s getting sentimental or someone’s crying or someone’s talking about a situation they’ve been through. If you look while you speak, you will notice particular facial expressions. You see the way they sit and their body language,” he said.
Behind the scissors and clippers, he’s heard of almost every mental health problem known to man or woman, but he credits his mentor, a clinical psychologist, for giving him the edge to spot those who need a word of encouragement.
Young people may not show it on the outside, but they are faced with a lot of emotions.
“Their sensitivity is such that it tears them apart. Society plays a big role in what happens, in the imbalance of chemicals in their brain or in their diet,” he said. said Prince, formerly in Carson but recently moved to Gardena.
“Sometimes adult black men see the problem and let’s help them collectively. They will intervene,” he said.
They also teamed up for toys this year, with customers coming together to make donations, both for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“We asked a city councilor to locate families in need and they came. Now we make toys and in doing so we meet a lot of families in need and have camaraderie with them. We use a lot of different avenues,” he said.
Not long ago, Prince also partnered with one of his clients, Kara James, around the importance of Black mental health in the community, particularly among youth.
James, a nurse practitioner at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, launched the Black Health Initiative last year. She said Black mental health findings in a recent Los Angeles County study show worrying trends within the Black community, with 25.5% admitting to needing help and 17.9% having. considered suicide.
“At work, I see it and I hear it,” she said. “It’s something I notice and hear in places like my hair salon. Young African American boys and men are experiencing challenges, highlighting the importance of initiatives to address mental health disparities.
Dealing with mental health issues starts young for black boys. She said this was complicated by societal prejudices and biases, as well as a difficult educational background.
“(This has) long-term consequences, ranging from disproportionate school sanctions to overrepresentation in special education. The criminal justice system exacerbates these problems by subjecting them to intense scrutiny,” she said in an email.
Stigma related to mental illness within the Black community also prevents people from seeking the care and treatment they need. If left untreated, she said the mental health consequences can harm all aspects of life, from relationships to careers.
Although the suicide rate has declined nationally, the numbers remain high among black adolescents, representing one of the leading causes of death, particularly among males.
“This highlights an urgent public health problem that requires immediate and specific action. Societal pressures on young people to conform or compete, the stigma of mental health issues that prevents people from getting help, and a lack of treatment options all contribute to this. resurgence,” she said.
One of the best ways to reach young black men is in safe environments, like black barbershops, which means more than just a haircut.
“They are community centers where camaraderie, conversation and support thrive. Everyone from the OGs, to the older generation, to the kids, and even women like me, come together, cultivating a distinct sense of community and trust,” she said.
She also remains true to her roots, having lived her entire life in the community, dropping out of school and eventually becoming a nurse practitioner. She brings a lot of “hood knowledge” and overcomes obstacles with her 63 Chevrolet Impala, a respected cultural icon.
As part of the Barber Shop, she also gives “a touch of tough love,” paving the way for young people to talk about taboo topics and relationships. But its main message to all ages is about proactive health care measures, the need for frequent check-ups and prostate exams for older men.
The community should also know their HIV status, understand the need and use of condoms, and get tested for STDs.
Planned Parenthood and other community outreach programs are critical to reducing health disparities and challenges in African American communities, for Black men, and the lack of resources also affects Black women.
“The high rate of maternal mortality among African American women is a major cause for concern, highlighting the importance of comprehensive and culturally appropriate care,” she said.
Planned Parenthood Los Angeles Black Health Initiative addresses these concerns by focusing on increasing the African American community’s access to reproductive health care, cancer screening, and mental health support.
“This effort aims to reduce health disparities by collaborating with community leaders, providing culturally relevant awareness, and training health care personnel in cultural competency, thereby improving health outcomes and promoting health equity. health care,” she said.
For more information about Long Beach Health Center, see https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/california/long-beach/90806/long-beach-central-10025-90070
To view the state study of Black Los Angeles County, see
https://bit.ly/4752NNM
Learn more https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-los-angeles/black-health-initiative
