Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Until The Well Runs Dry: Mental Health in the African American Community

Until The Well Runs Dry: Mental Health in the African American Community

Ince, Wayne

Hardcover

Health General

ISBN13: 9798994346013
Publisher: Breaking Ranks Book
Published: Feb 11 2026
Pages: 146
Weight: 0.81
Height: 0.38 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English

The book is a pratical guide that highlights several key themes regarding mental health stigma, particularly in the African American community:

  1. Silence and Stigma: Mental health struggles are often stigmatized, leading individuals to suffer in silence. ​ This stigma is rooted in cultural norms that equate seeking help with weakness, and the fear of being labeled crazy or judged. ​
  2. Historical Trauma: Generational trauma from slavery, segregation, and systemic racism has shaped attitudes toward mental health. ​ Survival strategies from the past, such as suppressing emotions and avoiding vulnerability, have hardened into cultural norms that discourage seeking help. ​
  3. Cultural and Systemic Barriers: Stigma is compounded by systemic racism, lack of access to culturally competent care, economic barriers, and mistrust of medical systems due to historical abuses like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. ​
  4. Impact of Stigma: Stigma leads to untreated mental health issues, which can worsen physical health, relationships, and overall well-being. ​ It also perpetuates shame and isolation, preventing individuals from seeking necessary care. ​
  5. Breaking the Silence: The document emphasizes the importance of challenging stigma through education, honest conversations, and community support. ​ It advocates for rejecting harmful beliefs that equate strength with silence and encourages individuals to seek help without fear or shame. ​
  6. Cultural Competency: Effective mental health care must reflect the lived experiences, values, and cultural backgrounds of individuals. ​ Providers must understand the impact of racism and trauma on mental health to build trust and provide meaningful care. ​
  7. Faith and Mental Health: While faith can be a source of strength, some religious communities contribute to stigma by framing mental illness as a spiritual failing. ​ The document calls for integrating faith and mental health care to reduce stigma and support healing. ​
  8. Advocacy and Systemic Change: The document stresses that breaking stigma requires systemic change, including better access to culturally competent care, mobile crisis teams, and community-based mental health resources. ​

The overarching message is that stigma kills, and breaking the silence around mental health is essential for healing, survival, and systemic change. ​

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