Black Male Representation

This team member will shed light on the lack of Black male representation in the mental health field, including the lack of Black males in leadership roles. We are incredibly grateful to have them as part of our team!

After more than 15 years in business, we have come to realize the numerous ways in which our mental health care system has failed People of Color. This month, we have initiated a discussion to gain a deeper understanding of one of our staff member’s experiences, motivations, and the impact they aspire to create for their clients and community through their career. Without further delay, allow us to introduce you to Shawn Campbell.

Meet Shawn

Shawn Campbell, MSW, Supported Living Community Program Manager

Shawn received his Business Administration degree from Strayer University and then completed his Masters Degree in Social Work from Howard University. His past social work experience was working in long term care facilities, a drug rehabilitation center, and working collaboratively with geriatric dietitians. Here at Help in the Home Shawn utilizes the skills he’s learned over the years to add value to the services he provides to clients.

Shawn believes the best way to find yourself and have a meaningful life is to lose yourself in the service of others. Valuing teamwork in general, he appreciates the way Help in the Home’s staff all work together for the best client care experience.

On the weekends Shawn likes working on his cars, going on family outings, and traveling. He also likes to read and is even in the process of writing his own book! Making a priority of his health, you will find Shawn in the gym 5 days a week too.

Help in the Home: Why do you think Black males are so underrepresented in the mental health field?

Shawn: 

“The underrepresentation of Black American males in the mental health field stems from several factors, such as health disparities within the Black community that has created generations of people who wholeheartedly distrust the healthcare system. There is a need for mentorships, outreach programs, or campaigns for Black male representation in the mental health career field. A male of any race choosing this particular field as a career choice the numbers are low. The number of Black American males in the mental health field are always going to be disproportionately low inherently relative to their counterparts numbers in the general population. This disproportionately low numbers could be due to some Black American males’ mistrust of the healthcare system as a whole and wouldn’t consider the mental health field as an option. Some Black American males are an example of systematic marginalization, one in which young Black males inherit a diminished education system. Education plays a key role in whether or not an individual would have an opportunity to consider the mental health career path. The current education for a Black American male from an insufficiently funded and inadequately equipped school system guiding him and preparing him to become a mental health practitioner would be another factor as to why the underrepresentation in the mental health field persists.”

Help in the Home: Why is the representation of Black males in the mental health field important?

Shawn:

“Representation of Black males in the mental health field is important to our community because receiving help from cultural familiarity gives a sense of commonality, allowing a different comfort level, and not feeling othered. Having culturally affirming mental health care shows representation matters, and how important having this transformative potential in the mental health field for Black American males means support, possible validation, and help moving on in grief, which in turn heals the community of the stigma and mistrust which has been associated with health care and the mental health field.”

Help in the Home: Why is the representation of Black males in the mental health field in leadership roles important?

Shawn: 

“Seeing a Black male in a leadership position in the mental health field can speak of how an organization values diversity, in turn allowing Black males to view the environment as open and accepting. Seeing this type of representation may ignite hope, and for some opportunity to someday be in a leadership role. Leadership roles are very unique positions to have the privilege to experience. Understanding the need for representation of a Black male in some cases could be the difference between another Black male accepting the mental health services or not.”

Help in the Home: Why is it important to you that you work for an organization that values servant leadership? 

Shawn:  

“Leaders prioritize the management of staff/team members in many different ways, and working for an organization that focuses their management style on servant-leadership is very important to me. Unlike traditional management’s exercise of power, using the top down approach, servant-leaders style prioritize putting others on the team first, without expecting or seeking personal gain or the need for recognition. Servant-leaders uplift and help team-members and the people they serve develop and grow. I view being a servant leader as someone serving others, and this service is sometimes unseen and quietly done without asking for any recognition or any type of reward.”

Help in the Home: Is there anything else you’d like to share from the Black male perspective about working in a leadership role in the mental health field or working in the mental health field in general?

Shawn: 

“There are significant challenges Black American males face compared with other groups that affect our mental health such as poverty, discrimination, structural inequalities, childhood adversity, social injustice, police brutality, systemic racism, educational disparities, economic inequalities, income disparities, health disparities, and exposure to gun violence. The issues that affect Black mental health are very unique and having Black representation matters in helping our community begin to heal.”

We hope you found this Q&A with our team member as insightful as we did.

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Schedule a free consultation by calling 866-967-9994 to speak with the intake specialist. Please be prepared to provide general information about current circumstances. More onboarding information can be found here.