Written by: Snježana “Ana” Billian, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Take a look at the top search results on Google on how to improve your mental health, and you'll find common advice like:
Surround yourself with positive people.
Practice self-care.
Engage in physical activity.
Let go of bad habits.
But there's an aspect of well-being that's often overlooked and yet crucial to boost and maintain your mental health: Honoring your identity.
I talked to Brithany Marbun, a clinical social worker and mental health expert, about why there's no one-size-fits-all solution to mental health.
What is the story of you entering into the field of mental health?
I feel my story into mental health begins with the unique parts of me that make me, me. I am an Indonesian-American person of color and a child of immigrants, born of resilience, hope, and courage. My parents left their homeland of Indonesia 30 years ago to live in an unknown land to create a life different from what they've known, filled with struggle and poverty.
And against all odds, their dreams came true. But as I grew under their care, I learned that their dreams came at a cost. I've learned that being people of color and being immigrants comes with a heavy price, often paid in lack of culturally-informed care, oppression, and disadvantages born from racism and ignorance.
I am also a queer individual, a part of the LGBTQ+ community. I celebrate being a person of color, and I celebrate being queer. It is a life of true wonder and exploration that can only be known through lived experience. And yet the joys cannot cover the reality of what it means to be who I am and the challenges my communities face.
What are some of the challenges you see in your communities?
One challenge racial minorities face is the “perpetual foreigner” stereotype when someone is assumed to be foreign-born or doesn't speak English. Research also shows that Asian Americans are the least likely racial group to take action on their mental health and are more likely to reach out to friends and family. However, not all of them have a strong support system and can have difficulty expressing their challenges due to guilt, shame, or even inability to speak the same language.
Other reports show that LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than non-LGBTQ+ identifying teens. Forty-eight percent of transgender adults report that they have considered suicide in the last year, compared to four percent of the overall US population.
These challenges BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities have faced left scars that can only be cared for in ways that see them for all they are. It is not enough that they receive care that helps anyone.
Now I am pursuing a career in clinical social work to become the therapist I always needed, and still need, in this world as a queer person of color. I hope, through my work, to give healing that tells BIPOC-LGBTQ+ people, "I see you, I hear you, and I want to know you. You are needed; you are wanted. Please tell me your story. Please show me what healing looks like for you. Please tell me what it means to fight for you."
You mentioned that some groups could not fully benefit from mental health services available to anyone. Why do you think that?
Giving care is more than just a one-size-fits-all. To enable healing for my clients, I need to honor their identities and the realities they've walked through in their life. That is what intersectional therapy is all about. Intersectional therapy leads me to ask myself, "Who is my client? What parts of them matter the most to them?"
It makes me ask larger questions, like, "How have racism and homophobia affected my clients? What modalities will heal these traumas created by systems of oppression? What can I do in my everyday life to help challenge these realities and make a better world for my clients? How do I contribute to these systems?"
It is hard work, I must admit. Intersectionality work guides me to sit with myself often in uncomfortable spaces, look myself in the mirror, and be gentle while taking accountability. But it is rewarding work, and I hope all healthcare providers pursue the same.
What kind of differences to your practice do you hope to implement to make mental health care sensitive to the identities and needs of your communities?
In my work with clients, I hope to first and foremost inform myself of language and cultural practices that are a part of my clients' communities and everyday life. To know someone more deeply, we have to speak their language.
I also hope to implement interventions and modalities that focus on healing trauma that has its roots in racism, homophobia, and transphobia. For me, this looks like engaging my clients in discussions about their race, gender, sexuality, and other identities to enable healing related to those identities.
What can the rest of us do to create positive change in our own lives?
An easy way to start is by being mindful of your intersecting identities. You might be surprised by how unique and complex you are. Take time to celebrate your identities and take time to realize your privileges. When ready, take time to grieve the losses that inequality may have put in your life because of those identities.
For my fellow therapists, I encourage the deeper study of your clients and their identities. This may look like a personal study of your clients' cultures, attending training and certification classes related to different identities, and engaging your client in respectful conversation about who they are. As we all sit and allow ourselves the gift of recognition of who we are, we can be more sensitive to those who are both like us and different.
For more information, visit my website and connect with me on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Snjezana Ana Billian, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Snježana Ana Billian is a career coach and the founder of Workmazing, an online career platform for people looking to create a meaningful career.
Workmazing's vlog and online summits are devoted to sharing thought-provoking interviews with authorities in the field of career, leadership, and happiness at work.
Ana is the co-author of the bestseller "Inspired By The Passion Test – The 1 Tool For Discovering Your Passion And Purpose."
She was featured in Business Insider, Thrive Global, Brainz Magazine, and other media outlets.
In the past decade, Ana has led numerous human resources programs for large-sized multinational corporations, helping executives and high-potential professionals step into more prominent roles.
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