‘Surviving Through Mental Health’: Norfolk city leaders work to address minority mental health

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Mermaid City is working to break stigmas surrounding mental health, and Councilwoman Danica Royster, who represents Superward 7, is leading the charge.

On Thursday, July 11, ‘Surviving Through Mental Health ‘ will be an opportunity to hear from experts, teens and community advocates from 5 to 9 p.m. at the historic Attucks Theatre at 1010 Church St.

Royster partnered with a new non-profit, Project ORF and the Norfolk Community Service Board, for the community chat, which is happening during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.

“I have been diagnosed with anxiety, ADD, also dealt with my bouts with depression,” Royster said. “What we want to do is make sure we’re arming people with the resources that we have available to us here in the city of Norfolk to help them thrive through their mental health versus just surviving.”

Since the pandemic, conversations about mental health are happening more often. 

“I’m really focused on seeing what each of us can do as it relates to breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma,” Royster said.

In July, the city pledged to spread awareness about mental health disparities among minorities through a proclamation signed by Mayor Kenny Alexander.

WHEREAS, the mental health of our citizens is essential to the continued wellbeing and vitality of our families, businesses, and communities: and

WHEREAS, people with mental illnesses are more likely to recover if given the necessary services and support in their communities; and

WHEREAS, racial and ethnic minority populations experience numerous mental health disparities including higher rates of attempted suicide in adolescents and lower treatment rates for mental disorders like depression in adults; and

WHEREAS, only one out of two people with a serious form of mental illness seeks treatment: and

WHEREAS, stigma and fear of discrimination keep many who would benefit from mental health services from seeking help; and

WHEREAS, every July, Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed across the United States to spread public awareness about mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities and to eliminate negative attitudes and behaviors toward people with mental illnesses.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KENNETH COOPER ALEXANDER, Mayor of the City of Norfolk, do hereby proclaim July 2024 as MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH in the City of Norfolk and call upon citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, and schools in Norfolk to commit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental illnesses, reducing stigma and discrimination, and promoting appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental illnesses.

— Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander

The taboo topic, for some, can be linked to poverty, generational trauma and violence. 

“Gun violence is something that often comes up in community and something that can cause impact to people over time,” Royster said. “Violence in general, whether it’s gun violence and even domestic violence — to observe, hurt, harm and danger on a regular basis — it has a mental impact on persons, and not even how you show up in society, but even how you present yourself.”

The community service board works to assist those that are most vulnerable, including the Assertive Community Treatment Team, or ACT Team.

“We are the city of Norfolk’s primary mental health provider for the vulnerable adults that have a persistent and serious mental illness,” said Randy Plante, Community Service Board ACT Team programs manager. “Some have coexisting conditions, which is homelessness, criminal justice involvement.”

The ACT Team celebrated 25 years on July 1. The team of 22, including a traveling psychiatrist around the clock. 

“With a lot of our folks, we are their primary support,” Plante said. “The population we serve, my teammates reflect that. That’s important because a lot of our folks on the team are minorities, but we give our heart to everybody.”

Plante has worked with the most vulnerable population for three decades, with the goal to decrease the population at Eastern State Hospital, a goal Plante said the team has accomplished. 

“Unfortunately, we have six ACT clients [in Williamsburg] — not for psychiatric hospital,” Plante said. “They’re up there for restoration because they were found incompetent to stand trial under the mental health docket.”

He plans to continue to help those with severe illnesses while encouraging the next generation. 

“There’s no greater gift than to give your heart to another human being,” Plante said.