Preface: A Message of Visibility
What does it mean to be neurodivergent?
Neurodiversity is not the same as mental illness. As a concept, neurodiversity means openly acknowledging and accepting the different ways that people perceive the world around them and how that may affect the way they navigate the world.
The term neurodivergent can also be applied to people with the following conditions: Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Epilepsy, Hyperlexia, Dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Tourette Syndrome.
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To learn more about the conditions listed above, please click here.
In addition to these systemic barriers, the Black community has particularly influential cultural stigmas around discussing mental health that may prevent neurodivergent individuals from seeking care out of shame. A 1998 study conducted by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) stated that up to 63% of Black individuals believed these stigmatized statements, making those that understand or encourage others to seek out mental health resources to be in the minority. While cultural shifts around mental health have occurred within the Black community since the publication of the NMHA study, more recent literature confirms that significant numbers of Black individuals still see the need for mental health resources as a sign of personal weakness, a lack of motivation, or spiritual issues (Ward et al., 2013; Williams and Steever, 2012). As a result of the stigmatization of mental health care, many Black, neurodivergent individuals may favor the support of their religious community rather than diagnosis and self-understanding.
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It is necessary to address these barriers around discussing mental health and neurodiversity to be able to provide more tailored support to Black, neurodivergent individuals since they have their own experiences with Black culture, racial discrimination, and ableism. For example, a 2020 study by Katz et al. on Black experiences with OCD revealed that Black individuals with OCD have more cycles of distressing painful thoughts and comforting rituals related to religion and luck than White people with OCD. Resources for Black individuals with OCD could be improved by understanding this information. Similarly, more studies related to other neurodiverse conditions could normalize underrepresented Black, neurodiverse experiences.
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The Double Diversity Digital Art Gallery represents one step toward destigmatizing conversations around mental health in the Black community by bringing the experiences of Black, neurodivergent individuals to light.
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For more information about how the study behind the Double Diversity Digital Art Gallery was conducted, please click here to visit the about page.
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Enjoy the gallery!
Visibility is at the heart of the Double Diversity Digital Art Gallery. The art displayed in the gallery was created as part of an oral storytelling project on the lived experiences of Black, neurodivergent college students in Austin, Texas. Together, the pieces represent the participants' experiences in navigating adversity and building support networks through self-care and community.
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The voices and experiences of Black, neurodivergent individuals are underrepresented in all forms of literature, including studies related to mental health and neurodiversity. Although studies on neurodiverse conditions cover a wide range of topics, this lack of Black, neurodivergent representation in studies has been consistently noted, and available data shows several systemic and cultural trends that act as barriers to mental health care.
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According to a 2017 American Psychiatric Association (APA) report, only one-third of Black individuals who could benefit from mental health care received it, and those who sought mental health care were less likely to be offered medication, therapy, or psychotherapy compared to the general population. The number of Black individuals seeking care may be so low in part due to financial obstacles. In 2019, the United States Census Bureau found that nearly 19% of Black people lived below the poverty line, while the Kaiser Family Foundation states that 11.4% of Black individuals lack access to insurance and health care. Black, neurodivergent individuals may also have to seek care from professionals who do not understand their identity or who hold racial biases. The APA reported that only 3% of the U.S. psychology workforce identified as Black in 2019, fewer than the number of Black mental health professionals in previous years.
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