Researchers have found that people of color are less likely to seek out mental health services when needed. A Wichita church will host a conference this weekend to address social stigmas surrounding mental illness.
"Call Me Crazy: A Five Film," starring singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, will kick off the conference. The film provides a new understanding of what happens when a loved one struggles with mental illness.
Afterward, a panel of experts will answer questions about treating depression, PTSD and other disorders.
Minister and therapist Annie Montgomery says when someone has a cold they typically seek treatment, "but what is it about mental health that keeps us in a box?
"We are ashamed, we're afraid, we don't want people to know," she said. "We do everything to try to cover it up."
A keynote speaker and breakout sessions will also be part of the conference, along with resources to find help. The Mental/Emotional Health Awareness Conference takes place Friday night and Saturday at Wichita's Tabernacle Bible Church.
Carla Eckels is director of cultural diversity and the host of Soulsations. Follow her on Twitter @Eckels.To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.
