When it comes to mental health and wellness, Black women face significant disparities in mental health care. There aren’t that many mental wellness places that cater to them and are created by them. Women experience depression twice as often as men. But black women are only about half as likely to seek care, according to a Johns Hopkins study.
This contradiction can impact Black women socially and physically. According to a New York University study, Black women who experience depression report more trouble sleeping, self-criticism, and irritability than typical symptoms such as depressed mood.
“Based on our findings, health care providers may miss symptoms of depression in Black women, leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment,” said Rory, a psychiatric and mental health nurse at New York University. said Nicole Perez, a postdoctoral fellow at the Myers College of Nursing.
Fortunately, there are mental wellness facilities where Black women can get the help they need and deserve. Below is a list of Black-owned wellness facilities led by Black women.
heel house
heel house is a mental wellness destination focused on healing through yoga and meditation. The space, located in Brooklyn, New York, is co-owned by a woman. Darian Hall and Elisa Shankle created this piece after experiencing major changes in their lives.
In Shankle’s case, she dealt with anxiety and depression in her 20s and found solace through natural herbs. While her natural and alternative treatments were an integral part of her life, losing her brother changed her even more. She healed herself with the help of her tribe and spirit guides and was eventually able to attune to Reiki her 2.
HealHaus is an inclusive, community-oriented, safe space for healing through classes and workshops.
genesis house
of genesis house A wellness retreat where the stars shine brightly and the water meets the earth to create a soothing oasis.
Genesis Lafourcade founded Genesis House Resort. Her team offers a variety of meditation experiences, including the Vortex Meditation, the “Sowing Seeds of Love and Kindness” meditation, and the Sedona Full Moon Meditation. You can also book retreat experiences through Genesis House.
Check In is a retreat held in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This is a comprehensive experience hand-picked for those who want to recharge and revive their mindset. Check Ya Self is an all-inclusive retreat experience designed for those who want to renew and refresh their inner and physical bodies while surrounded by Red His Rock Canyon near Sedona, Arizona. Check out His Out, an all-inclusive retreat in Marrakech, Morocco, hand-picked to help you discover the true meaning of self-care and your purpose. It can also spark your creativity and help you disconnect and reconnect with what matters most.
Touch of London Spa | Willow Glen
Touch of London Spa specializes in customized skin care and spa therapies. Touch of London, located in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood, is an intimate spa offering customized services for optimal relaxation.
The spa was founded by Violet Johnson, a British-trained nurse and midwife. Her work has taken her to Saudi Arabia, Africa, France, the Caribbean and China, but her first search was at a local spa. Her first-hand experience with the rich international spa culture influences her work today. Touch of London Spa offers her retreat packages that include massages and facials.
Spring
Huru is one of the mental wellness facilities in Washington, DC. A Swahili word that means “free.” Imani Samuels founded this retreat as a place where people can rest, have peace, and fight burnout.
Samuels created Huru after being faced with her request to wear a hat that she would wear. She developed severe anxiety and eventually found herself becoming debilitated. When her then three-year-old daughter commented that “she always looked tired,” she knew she had to make a change.
From that point on, when her daughter said those words, Ms. Samuels realized she could no longer maintain her behavior and decided to stand still. She is currently offering her own customizable solo break experience at Huru.
Omnoir
Omnoir is a global wellness platform for Black women and other women of color dedicated to living well from the inside out. After Christina Rice continued her wellness journey, she noticed a lack of representation in the wellness industry and she founded this space in 2015.
Rice hosts a variety of retreats around the world, including Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and South America.
