Keep it going!!!
We don’t need a signature month for us to practice good mental health habits or for us to spread awareness. We appreciate the opportunity to catch those who tend to follow trends and calendar days, yet may not have taken the time to consider the effects of the lack of knowledge as it pertains to mental health awareness in general. Every one we reach at any time, is important and a blessing to connect with.
Minority Mental Health Awareness, IN AND OF ITSELF, shows that there is an awareness difference that DOES EXIST, as it relates to culture and race. That’s a problem. — It’s a problem that we did not initiate, however it IS a problem that we can work to fix.
Thank you for reading with us and continuing to connect with safe spaces for WOC. We are honored to connect with more melanated women and share stories of power, depth and impact, and we hope that we are a soothing source for your mental. We want to help the community grow and prosper, through the reciprocal benefits of storytelling.
We are honored to introduce to you a woman who has great experience and knowledge to share with us on this subject.
An Interview with Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons, LCSW-C, FSW
Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons, LCSW-C, FSW is a God-fearing wife, mother and clinician. Dr. Ashley has accomplished a lot in her personal and professional life, but none of her accomplishments have been obtained with ease.
Dr. Ashley has been able to birth multiple businesses, all focused on the things that she is most passionate about; she calls it her “Three M’s” (moms, money and mental health).
Dr. Ashley is the CEO of Conversations with A Clinician, the founder of Momz OnA Mission Inc. and the co-owner of Savvy Accomodations LLC. Conversations With A Clinician (CWAC) focuses on creating safer spaces for Black and Hispanic women to heal through the art of having healthy conversation, Momz OnA Mission Inc. (MOMI) is a nonprofit that uses its three towers to build exposure, mentorship, and financial empowerment for single mothers and Savvy Accommodations LLC is a business that Dr. Ashley started with her husband, Antwan; the focus of this business is to build legacy and generational abundance for their family.
What do you feel is most important for POC to know about Mental Health?
Many people of color simply don’t take mental health seriously, so we don’t talk about it.
I feel that it is important for people of color to understand that our Mental Health is the foundation for anything that we build in life.
Where did your initial interest come from, when it comes to your passion for the industry?
My initial interest in mental health transpired from my own challenges and struggles. Stress, depression and anxiety are very real and it may show up in our lives in very different ways. When I was a child, I would frequently hear many clich’e sayings like stay in a child’s place, speak when spoken to, or don’t let them see you sweat; and now as an adult, I realize the ignorance in each of these sayings. I believe these traditional sayings have been a major factor in why the black/brown community is in the condition that it is in today. I strive to educate black and brown women about the significance of understanding their history and changing the narrative in a healthy way for themselves and future generations.
What are some of the most common circumstances that trigger mental health struggles for WOC, and how can we improve these stats as a community?
Common Tiggers
-Family trauma
-Inability to say no
-Obligations
-Financial distress
-Self-neglect
-Lack of support
The community could support women of color by:
-Creating Safer Spaces (ie. support groups)
-Immediate access to mental healthcare professionals
-Encouraging self-care
-Sharing Financial Education
-Acknowledging that mental distress is real
What are some of the contributors to the Minority community’s Mental Health Awareness rates? How can we continue to increase our awareness as a community?
-Unhealed trauma
-Feelings of being weak or vulnerable
-Lack of education
-Stigma
We can continue to increase awareness by actively advocating and speaking out about mental health.
Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons, LCSW-C, FSW
Dr. Ashley’s mission is to be a light to all and to be a hope to anyone struggling with their mental health. Ashley is a licensed clinical social worker, a certified financial social worker, encouraging speaker, published author, poet, and an avid traveler.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/dr.alosimms?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ashley-lowe-simmons-lcsw-c-05b40360
Education:
University of Southern California
Doctorate of Social Work
University of Maryland
Certificate in Financial Social Work
Morgan State University
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Illinois State University
Bachelor of Science (BS), Criminal
Justice Sciences