Addressing mental health amid the ‘triangle of trauma’
By Harry Colbert, Jr., editor-in-chief
Sometimes all we need to do is take a deep breath.
Sometimes … oftentimes … we need more. We need help.
The stress of COVID alone would be enough. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, during the pandemic four out of 10 people reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. That is up from just one in 10 in January of 2019.
Add the stress of police killings and uprisings related to George Floyd, Daunte Wright and most recently Winston Smith and the stress is compounded. Then add the seemingly daily shootings on the Northside – two taking the lives of girls 9 and 6, and it can all be too much.
So, how do we cope with this “triangle of trauma” along with life’s other daily stresses?
Marques Armstrong stands in the foreground, mourning the death of Daunte Wright during his April 22 funeral. Photo by Harry Colbert, Jr.
“It’s been a tumultuous year and a half, but we deal with it,” said the Rev. David Keaton, pastor at Kingdom Life Church, 3751 Sheridan Ave. N. “But there is no silver bullet in counseling. Mainly it’s about being available (as a pastor) to talk and to listen and to apply the word of God as a salve.”
Keaton, whose congregation is predominantly Black, said his parishioners have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and said members of his church have experienced loss due to both COVID-19 and gun violence.
“North Minneapolis is inner-related and my congregation is connected to all of this,” said Keaton.
For Marques Armstrong, president and CEO of Hope and Healthy Counseling Services and co-founder of the Racial Justice Network, he counsels those with trauma while dealing with his own as a frontline activist along with his wife, attorney Nekima Levy-Armstrong. For Armstrong, coping is a daily battle.
“It’s challenging as a healer to care for self,” said Armstrong. “One of the main things I do is look to God (for healing).”
In addition, Armstrong said he practices physical fitness as a form of self-care.
“We carry trauma in our body so it’s important to work out that trauma,” said Armstrong. “And breathing is a powerful tool to exhale that trauma. And chanting along with exhaling; it’s healthy and empowering.”
Armstrong encouraged people to recognize the signs of trauma, such as disrupted sleep patterns, irrational thinking, thoughts of harm to self or others, paranoia and other irregularities.
“When my baby wants a hug and I can’t, I know I’m overwhelmed,” said Armstrong. “It’s important to not pass on your pain to others.”
Dr. Lolita King, supervising psychologist at NorthPoint Health & Wellness, said she’s seen an increase in the number of appointments kept during the pandemic.
“We’ve been quite busy,” said King. “We’re holding appointments by phone, video and now, in person.”
King said the overlapping trauma is taking its toll on the community.
“First you have the uncertainty and anxiety due to the pandemic. People were concerned about themselves and their family,” said King. “And violence in community, police killings and protests added another layer of stress. Plus, these events trigger pre-existing trauma.”
King, like Armstrong, also encouraged proper rest to help manage stress. In cases that are more severe, she said medication may be prescribed. For those in need of medication, NorthPoint has psychiatrists on staff to assess a patient’s needs. Appointments can be made by phone at (612) 543-2500.