I love working in the black women's health space and connecting with other women who are walking in their purpose, advocating for black women's health.
I reached out to Joy and Deneisha, two amazing black women who are based in Arkansas, USA who host a podcast featured on NPR (National Public Radio USA) called Resilient Black Women. Resilient Black Women is also a charity they run which aims to demystify mental health & culture for black women, women of colour, and women everywhere.
I felt honoured to connect with two women and instantly connect with them as pertains to our concerns regarding black women's womb and mental health. They invited me to speak with them on their podcast, speaking about Women's health and my thoughts on being a resilient black woman.
Check out the podcast here, available on all platforms, and check out their website https://www.resilientblackwomen.org
Here is a snippet of some of the take home messages I shared:
Being black, female and resilient is a journey. A first step is being aware of the facts and research that recognise that black women do experience challenges compared to others, for example in regards to health outcomes and financial opportunities. Knowledge is power and this can help you develop your strategy.
Have clear boundaries in life, communicate them clearly to people in your professional and personal life.
Get advice from other black women who have experienced the challenge you're facing.
Build up your network as much as possible. If it is tricky in your direct vicinity use the internet as a tool, there are lots of resources and support groups based on social media and websites. Remember there are real people behind the screen and it is a great tool to connect with like minded people, but do so safely. There may be opportunities to attend webinars or in person events to learn more or gain support in an area of need.
Ask for a second opinion if you do not feel comfortable in your shared care management plan from your medical care provider.
Do not be discouraged, travel further afield if you need to, in order to access the medical care you deserve and feel confident in.
Prioritise and invest in your health, consider coaching which can have a profound impact on our overall health - physical, mental, social, spiritual and financial health are all important in order to meet our whole needs.
Protect your wombs. This means attending cervical smear testing when called and getting regular sexual health screens if sexually active. Untreated sexually transmitted infections can result in fertility issues if left untreated for long periods.