By Deidre Montague, Northend Agent’s
Wanting to encourage others struggling with their mental health to reach out for help, Derrick M. Roberts II created and hosted his unique event “Pieces of Me” on May 2 at the Infinity Music Hall on 32 Front Street in Hartford.
Before the musical showcase, Roberts II assembled a free Mental Health Expo, where expert psychiatrists, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers had a real conversation about mental health and healing.
The Expo was moderated by Kenneth L. Ayers, Jr., a Postdoctoral Fellow in Sports & Performance Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University.
Panelists included Ayotunde Ayobello, MD Yale School of Medicine, Carolina Parrott, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Yale Child Study Center, Carlita Elias, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology at the University of Hartford, and Enda Rodriguez, PsyD, a clinical psychologist of Trinity Health of New England Regional Director of Behavioral Health.
One of the questions Ayers asked was what were some of the myths that they encounter about mental health while working within communities of color and how do they work to help community members to try therapy or medication, or mental health care.
Ayobello said that one of the myths that he often encounters with his clients is that therapy and seeking help is not effective or will not be helpful to them.
“There are beliefs that there are other ways that you can get help, whether it’s talking to a friend, talking to a family member, or going to your religious institution, the church. So I think there’s a belief that the mental health system is not effective or can take advantage of the public. I believe that’s one of the biggest misconceptions,” he said.
He said that he tries to explain what the mental health system really does with community members, who are his clients.
“It’s really important to build relationships with clients and build trust with clients, because I will say, there are situations and stories that you hear and you realize, ‘Okay, that (situation) shouldn’t have happened or that was a negative experience,’ but those are far and few. We really need to improve that perspective and let them know that the mental health system is here to support them and to care for them,” he said.
Rodriguez said that a misconception that she comes across as she works in a hospital is that community members may feel condemned and hold the belief that they will always be needing this highest level of care.
“People are scared that now they’re dependent on medications or that basically their lives are going to be taken over by a diagnosis. I want to say…that’s inaccurate…having a mental health diagnosis, having a struggle at a point that requires you to be in a place like a hospital -it’s like getting appendicitis and requiring a surgery. You get your appendix out, you’re better, you’re fixed, then you go to your gastroentererologist, you go to your PCP, and you continue your health wellness journey. It can be the same,” she said.
She also said that there are moments that people need higher levels of care and it’s adequate to come and seek this in a hospital.
“Most times if people pay attention to their symptoms early enough, they will never end up in a place like a hospital, but if somebody does end up there that doesn’t mean that they’re condemned to always live there (or) that now their lives are ruined…another one that I hear is (that) ‘I’m not going to find a job, because I want to go to X or Y job and people are not going to want me because I was here.’ It’s confidential. You can have your privacy…it can be a situation where you go get treatment, find a path for you to do it in the community, and keep moving – but many times it’s necessary and actually lifesaving to be in the hospital,” she said.
Parrott said that while she does agree with Ayobello and Rodriguez, she has also experienced community members tell her that therapy is not created for them.
“To some degree that (statement) is true, because therapy for some folks hasn’t felt relatable. They haven’t felt represented…especially the communities that I serve that are primarily Latinos, (and the) Black and brown community, so what does that mean for them? It’s that ‘well yeah, I’m not being seen. My experiences are not being reflected here’…oftentimes, I can understand that. I also can see that there is…a benefit and part of that is the rapport building…(and) representation within our field. I think (that) is important as well…(along with) acknowledging that those things exist,” she said.
She also said that when she speaks to her own community, as a Latina, that some community members think that it says something negative about them for having to go to therapy to deal with a difficult issue in their lives, instead of handling it on their own.
“(Clients may say) ‘what does that look like for me and what is the stigma associated with that?’ That is a cultural belief, so I just wanted to highlight that as well,” she added.
Elias said that she also encounters similar conversations as Parrott with her clients, who are Black and brown women, birthing parents and their children.
“I’ve heard very similar things (from clients) about feeling that therapy means that I’m weak or that it won’t work. A lot of times, people have had experiences where maybe they were in a therapy relationship that wasn’t a good match, where they didn’t feel that they were seen or heard, or they were in a system that if you missed an appointment – then you were kicked out and could no longer get the services,” she said.
She said that another misconception she hears from her clients is that therapy is adversial towards faith and in faith communities.
“I like to reassure the clients that I work with that you can talk about your faith as well and we can figure out how to integrate that into helping you to be well, (along with) how do we make sure that you’re in a healthy faith community and how can you determine those things as well. So, I like to tell people that you can have Jesus and a therapist,” she said.
The musical showcase was hosted by Peta G., who got the audience excited for the event. She praised them for allowing themselves a moment of self care by attending the showcase, especially during these difficult times in society.
“We hope that you are removing whatever title you came here with and sit with yourself. You are not mom, you are not dad, you are not sister, you are not brother, you are not the employee, you are not the godmother (or) the grandmother. You are you – right now, in this moment,” she said.
The showcase encompassed music, art, and mental wellness to remind the audience that they do not have to suffer alone.
After she introduced Roberts II, he came onto the stage and asked everyone to take a breath and remember the true purpose of this showcase – to heal in community.
“This night is about more than performances. It’s about breaking the silence around mental health. It’s about opening doors, creating access, holding space and reminding one another that seeking hope is not a sign of weakness but an incredible act of courage. So as you take in tonight’s showcase, let it speak to the pieces of you that need hope, affirmation and life and whatever you do, be gentle with yourself. Be good to yourself, because you’re worth it,” he said.
Throughout the night, Roberts II took turns singing and playing on his saxaphone familiar tunes and linking them to his own mental health journey of dealing with the loss of his grandfather while completing his doctorate degree at the University of Hartford.
He was accompanied throughout the night with his team of background singers: Ronald Campbell, Jenevelyn Carney, and Victoria Brooks, along with the BrotherBand.
Additional performance guests include Kim Cruse – Top 8 contestant on The Voice Season 22, Patrick “Dr.Violin” Bogui, dancer Lacie Wells, Daryl Bodrick, Matthew Rivera, Shanell Alyssa, LMHC, MT-BC. He also shared the stage with his brother – Justin St. Clair (Guitar) and his sister, Angelica Roberts (Piano).
Interspersed in between the musical sets, he also showcased a short film that chronicles his own struggle with mental health on his own to his reaching out for help through seeking a therapist to help him through his grief.
One of the standout performances was by Alyssa, who is an artist, music therapist, and mental health therapist. She had the crowd singing, “Peace on the inside, Peace on the outside,” while playing her guitar.
“There’s something so powerful about music. I think we all have our relationship with music, and we know it to be a kind of medicine to us, right? Everybody can attest to that in some way. And there’s literally a medicinal property to music in that especially not just music, but particularly singing. So when we sing, we actually activate what’s called the vagus nerve, and that nerve puts our bodies into rest mode…relax, reset, and we can start over and breathe again,” she said.
If you or a loved one is experiencing mental health struggles, you can call the free 988 Lifeline. You do not have to be suicidal to call.
