Health
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How to Win Friends and Influence People in a Psychiatric Ward
They tried to make it nice. They festooned the rec room in plastic Christmas decorations and bought us all donuts. There was even a special meal—dressing and gravy with a slice of turkey. But store-bought donuts and cafeteria holiday dinner didn’t change the fact that we all—patients and nurses included—were spending Christmas in an L.A.…
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During COVID-19, Black Women Are Still Dying From Not Being Taken Seriously
About a year ago I made up my mind to never give birth to a child in the United States. The decision came after I stumbled into an urgent care clinic in the Chicago neighborhood I lived in, after hours of lying on the couch in my apartment feeling weak and severely dehydrated yet unable…
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May Is Mental Health Awareness Month. You Hanging in There?
How you doin’, fam? Obviously, as of late, we’ve been talking a lot about health here at The Root. As the world—and the United States, in particular—faces an unprecedented health crisis in the outbreak of COVID-19, our concerns have largely been focused upon the physical aspects of the coronavirus; how to avoid it, combat it,…
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Juice WRLD's Mother Establishes Mental Health Support Fund in Honor of Son
Juice WRLD was open about his mental health struggles in his music, with songs such as his hit single, “Lucid Dreams.” Until his death last year at the age of 21, the rapper served as the voice of many young people who were feeling the same. Now, the musician’s mother is making sure to pay…
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Dion Waiters Reflects on Mental Health Struggles In Revealing New Interview: 'Depression Is Fake Happiness'
Dion Waiters can’t get right. Try as he may, the 28-year-old NBA star has yet to fully capitalize on his tremendous athleticism and natural scoring ability. As a result, he’s pinballed between the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers over the course of an eight-year career that’ll…
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The Root Joins PBS' Independent Lens and the film Bedlam for a Discussion on Mental Health and Mass Incarceration
The numbers are staggering. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in five adults—essentially 40 million Americans—are living with mental illness, including severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia, severe depression and bipolar disorder, of which I, too, am a sufferer. But when it comes to me, someone who enjoys a great career…
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Sabrina Elba Tests Positive for COVID-19, Explains Her Decision Not to Self-Isolate From Idris
If there’s anyone who is going to use the extra time that comes with social distancing in order to be more productive, it’s Oprah Winfrey. “Like millions of people all over the world, I’ve been staying safer at home for over a week now,” Oprah tweeted on Saturday. “I know a lot of people are…
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We're Just Not Built for This (and It's Fine to Admit That)
When faced with a life-altering and potentially life-ending crisis—a cancer diagnosis, for instance, or a terrorist attack—the performance of resilience can be an anesthetic; an anxiety-engulfing balm that allows us to make space for an effective counter-punch. Also, it just feels good to tell ourselves and others that “We got this” and “We’re built for…
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Scary Hours: Drake Reportedly Self-Isolating After Partying With Kevin Durant, Who Tested Positive for the Coronavirus
Drake is ubiquitous. Be it the Billboard charts, the clubs, or your girl’s DMs, the 6 God ain’t hard to find because much like the coronavirus, he’s pulling up and showing out every-damn-where. To that end, being Mr. Congeniality has its pitfalls, as the Independent reports that the Grammy Award-winning rapper is laying low in…