{"id":15421,"date":"2025-06-28T12:59:06","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T16:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/femimagazine.com\/?p=15421"},"modified":"2025-06-28T12:59:06","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T16:59:06","slug":"breaking-the-silence-honoring-ptsd-awareness-mens-mental-health-month-with-dr-shareefah-n-aluqdah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/femimagazine.com\/?p=15421","title":{"rendered":"Breaking the Silence, Honoring PTSD Awareness & Men\u2019s Mental Health Month with Dr. Shareefah N. Al\u2019Uqdah"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

June marks two critical observances in the mental health world: National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month<\/strong> and Men\u2019s Mental Health Month.<\/strong> These designations serve as a call to action to normalize conversations around mental wellness and reduce the stigma that continues to keep so many suffering in silence\u2014particularly in Black communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To deepen the conversation, we sat down with Dr. Shareefah N. Al\u2019Uqdah<\/a><\/strong>, a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, and leading voice in culturally grounded mental health care. With more than two decades of experience, Dr. Al\u2019Uqdah has dedicated her life\u2019s work to ensuring that Black individuals and families can access healing spaces that reflect who they are and where they come from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She currently serves as an Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at Howard University and is the Founder and CEO of Your Neighborhood Clinic, a nonprofit organization focused on delivering affordable, culturally affirming mental health services to the community.<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Purpose to Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For Dr. Al\u2019Uqdah, her calling began early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always wanted to help people, even as a child,\u201d she recalls. \u201cBut my passion deepened in high school when I read parts of The Bell Curve, a book that misused psychological research to argue that African Americans were intellectually inferior. I knew I had to enter this field to challenge those kinds of racist, harmful beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That moment of clarity set the course for a career that\u2019s now helping redefine how mental health is understood and accessed\u2014particularly by those historically left out of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding PTSD Beyond the Textbook<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

PTSD is often portrayed as the aftermath of a single traumatic event\u2014war, violence, or disaster. But Dr. Al\u2019Uqdah challenges this narrow framing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPTSD is typically defined as a response to an acute stressor, but in communities that face chronic stress, trauma may show up differently,\u201d she explains. \u201cIt can look like depression, anxiety, or even unhealthy relationship dynamics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common symptoms include mood changes such as sadness, numbness, or irritability; avoidance behaviors like withdrawal and isolation; and hyperarousal\u2014being easily triggered or constantly on edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One major misconception? \u201cThat trauma has to be dramatic or easily visible,\u201d says Dr. Al\u2019Uqdah. \u201cIn reality, people can carry deep wounds from persistent experiences like racism, financial instability, or emotional neglect. These are just as valid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting Loved Ones Through Healing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When someone is living with PTSD, support from family and friends can be vital\u2014but it must be informed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cListening is the first step,\u201d she emphasizes. \u201cThen educate yourself. There are excellent resources out there\u2014books, therapy directories, podcasts, even supportive social media accounts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Al\u2019Uqdah encourages sharing helpful content, offering encouragement to seek professional help, and avoiding judgment. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to fix it. Just be present and ready with resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Centering Men\u2019s Mental Health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In June, the spotlight also turns to men\u2019s mental health\u2014a conversation that\u2019s long overdue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany men struggle to talk about their feelings because they equate vulnerability with weakness,\u201d says Dr. Al\u2019Uqdah. \u201cThey\u2019re often more comfortable discussing thoughts than emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The social stigma surrounding masculinity and mental health leaves many men feeling isolated, ashamed, or afraid to ask for help. Dr. Al\u2019Uqdah wants to change that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small Steps Toward Help<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTherapy works,\u201d she affirms. \u201cBut if a man isn\u2019t ready to talk, that\u2019s okay. Start by reading. Listen to a podcast. Journal. Build a safe space with friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She believes connection is key. \u201cYou don\u2019t always have to be the strong one. There are people who want to support you\u2014let them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To foster more open conversations, she encourages reframing how we engage. \u201cInstead of asking \u2018What\u2019s wrong with you?\u2019 try, \u2018How have you been feeling lately?\u2019 We need to invite honesty, not diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Call to Community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Al\u2019Uqdah\u2019s work reminds us that healing is not a destination\u2014it\u2019s a process, one rooted in culture, community, and compassion. As June draws attention to PTSD and men\u2019s mental health, her message is clear: everyone deserves access to care that affirms their identity and meets them where they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Dr. Shareefah N. Al\u2019Uqdah<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instagram:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@yourneighborhoodpsychologist<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more on culturally grounded mental health, visit Your Neighborhood Clinic and join the movement to make mental wellness more inclusive, accessible, and real.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

June marks two critical observances in the mental health world: National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month and Men\u2019s Mental Health Month. 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