The Cafe' [Think Tank]

Mental disorders and mental illnesses are not race-specific. They can affect any race, nationality, gender or age. Yet, mental illness is very often stigmatized in black communities. As a result, they often do not seek help as they would with a physical illness. Why? In black communities, especially amongst young people - particularly teenagers, it is often not OK to talk about depression or other mental illnesses in their lives. Particularly among men, it is not socially acceptable for them to admit or talk about their mental illness. It is considered taboo to admit that they have something mentally wrong. The stigma of mental illness and resulting aversion to seeking treatment is reflected in some startling statistics: Many mental illnesses can be traced to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), such as divorce, neglect and abuse. Adverse Childhood Experiences greatly increase a person's risk of developing a mental illness at some point in their life. Yet, 62 percent of black ...

Updated story Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was charged Friday with violating federal law by misusing campaign funds -- and his wife Sandi Jackson was also charged with filing false joint tax returns. According to the Chicago Tribune, Jackson is accused of conspiring with his wife, formerly a Chicago alderman,  to divert $750,000 in campaign funds  for personal use. Politico reported earlier Friday that sources close to the case revealed  Jackson conspired with his wife Sandi to illegally spend the campaign funds on personal expenses.  Among the couple's improper expenditures: a $43,000 Rolex watch, home renovations, fur coats, cosmetic procedures, breakfast snacks and even beds for campaign workers.  ( Read Jesse Jackson Jr.'s full indictment document  and Sandi Jackson's separate indictment .) According to ABC Chicago,  Jesse Jackson Jr. released a statement on Friday : "Over the course of my life I have come to realize that none ...