Grace F. Victory - How To Calm It: Relax Your Mind

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First published in the United Kingdom by #Merky Books in 2021

Copyright Grace Victory 2021

The moral right of the translator has been asserted

Jacket design by Andreas Brooks

Text Design Andreas Brooks

ISBN: 978-1-529-11930-5

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

This book is dedicated to YOU . May you have the courage to be the creator of your own life and the belief that you are capable of doing so.

When we set out to raise funds for therapy sessions for Black people, by Black therapists, we werent quite sure how it would be received, and whether we were the ones to do it.

We started Black Minds Matter UK in June 2020 during the height of two global pandemics a virus sweeping the world, and the enduring torment of racial injustice in America that had tragically resulted in the senseless killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. We were just two young women living in Bristol, feeling hurt, betrayal, confusion and loss about what was going on around us, and unable to attend protests to give voice to our anger and frustration.

With the Black Lives Matter movement on the world stage, our collective racial trauma was exacerbated. There were so many conversations happening about race, in so many spaces, both physical and digital. It was important to us that Black peoples mental health was a major part of the discussions during this time, first and foremost so that we had space away from it all and an opportunity to heal, but also so that we had a chance to speak about other issues that may affect our lives not just racial trauma as its vital to view Black people as multi-faceted human beings and not just victims of racial violence. We felt that the most valuable conversation would be between two Black people, and that there should be a safe space for someone to talk with a trained and certified therapist who not only looks like them, but could be nuanced in their approach and unpack their struggles, guiding them towards a better place of mental healing after years of neglect, abuse and suffering.

Our journey started as a simple text between friends: How amazing would it be if someone raised money for Black people to seek therapy and receive the healing they deserve? We both had a deep passion for mental-health issues, having experienced them in our own lives. We turned to the tools we had at hand our laptops, the internet, and our past fundraising experience and got to it. We created a very basic website, a GoFundMe page, and an Instagram account, and then spread the word to our immediate family and friends. Our mission was clear from the get-go: to connect Black people with certified Black therapists, to encourage Black people to seek out medical treatment during the early stages of a mental illness, and to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health in and outside of the Black community. We couldnt have predicted the overwhelming response. Within forty-eight hours we had reached our initial fundraising goal, and our target to pair fifty people with Black therapists; however, we were inundated with requests for more support. It was astonishing to see our community galvanise behind our mission, and in less than six months weve grown our incredible team of volunteers and raised an astonishing 800k which will go towards changing over 2,000 lives within the UK.

When it comes to understanding and advocating for Black mental-health issues, there is still so much work and learning to be done. Firstly, everyone must acknowledge that it is a critical issue at a cultural level. For years, Black people have been viewed as strong and resilient beings, negating the necessity of thinking about our mental-health needs, and as a community we gloss over this. Secondly, we suffer from a proven form of race-based stress called racial trauma, which is the consequence of living in a society full of micro and macro racial aggressions. Thirdly, we have to acknowledge how much systemic racism has poured into our healthcare system. In the UK, Black British people are three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with psychosis, are detained under the mental health act more frequently than white people, and are often treated harshly and unsympathetically when they receive professional care. Because of the lack of therapists of colour in the healthcare service, Black people often work one-on-one with therapists who dont share their lived experience creating a disconnect in culture and nuance. Its a large task that will take time, but there is a solution, and it can be done.

As Black Minds Matter UK continues to grow, we will encourage wider conversations that shift the perception of Black people in society, because you cant care about Black lives if you dont care about Black minds. If theres one thing weve learned this year, it is to never underestimate your power and your ability to make long-term change in society. We plan to continue providing more access for Black people in the UK to become certified Black therapists for as long as our service is needed. Our desire to see better representation in counselling and to combat the barriers to Black people entering the industry has led us to partner with Black Therapy Matters, to ensure that aspiring Black therapists are supported both emotionally and financially until they qualify. With increased access to certified Black therapists and growing funds in the form of donations, Black Minds Matter UK can continue to increase the number of people who will be able to access our service after our second launch in June 2021. With the right mission, resources and community, we plan to positively transform the face of Black mental health in the UK and beyond.

Black Minds Matter UK

Firstly, hello and welcome. If youve reached this page it means youre intrigued about what I have to say and are interested in starting the wonderful journey of exploring yourself in a multi-dimensional way that will result in a calmer and more stable mind and body. That is not an easy thing to admit, or try to do, so thank you for putting yourself first. Its wonderful to have you with me.