It’s somewhat surreal that Sandra Bland recorded a number of videos prior to her untimely death while in jail in a Texas Holding Cell. Her videos address the condition of Depression but regarding that topic, Sandra Bland offers much encouragement to persons dealing with it.
Do these video seem to be representative of a person who would kill themselves? Could it be that Sandra Bland DID commit suicide to draw attention to her arrest and the condition of ‘DEPRESSION’, ironically making her a HERO of sorts.
I’m suggeesting Sandra Bland is a Modern Day Hero based upon the notion if she were alive & well as we speak, would any of her Social Media Videos EVER be viewed by anyone other than possibly her family and close friends…. and even then… what impact would any of the videos have?
People take Mental Health for granted … especially when it’s in the form of Depression because many people deal with this condition but are able to mange with no one knowing anything about what the person is going through. So a video posted on Social Media by a person dealing with depression is pretty much looked upon as not much of anything to be concerned with regarding that person possibly killing themselves.
I can imagine Sandra Bland being so Depressed … ALL OVER AGAIN … (relative to a prior but recent stint with depression and based upon her current arrest, bail set, inability to easily reach family & friends in order to post bail, and her confusion regarding having to sit in jail for an extended period based upon a trivial Traffic Stop, and having to miss her first day at work upon landing a Brand New Job)… that she would attempt suicide as she had allegedly done before.
This situation is VERY UNFORTUNATE and instead of trying ONLY figure out what really happened to Sandra Bland, while in Police Custody, I think there should be Mandatory Regulations regarding how Jails are designed such that Officers can SEE & MONITOR person who have been jailed … ESPECIALLY in a Holding Cell capacity!!!
Sandra Bland can no longer speak … but Social Media is doing a Great Job Speaking for her:
Video # 5 is very insightful and I think it should add some light to the state of her mental health. She's right about the Fact that Black ppl deal w/ PTSD and Depression because I have since 2001 but I was formally diagnosed in 2008 and had a combination of medication and cognitive-Behavioural therapies. Currently, I am only being treated for Depression but it's a daily challenge and I have a counselor that I see.
When my brother was hit and killed by a drunk driver in 1996, I became suicidal and entered a day treatment program. In hind sight,I probably have always had a underlying history of Depression and PTSD as a small child from the time I was molested around 4 years old as I recall always having a fear of men after the incident.
We are taught to pray and put it in the hands of God. One can hear some of that brain washing with Bland talking about Church song by Kurt Karr. If only she had gone further and sought out a psychiatrist and was actively being treated instead of relying on her faith alone. It's possible to do both..trust God and seek medical treatment. Depression is no more about the devil than any other thing as we're in the Black community trained to think.
I doubt seriously ppl in Mother Emanual where the Emanual 9 died will get any professional help probably for Depression or the PTSD they may have other than what we are taught to rely on faith and our ability to pray. The reason it took me so long to be diagnosed is that I was brain washed that way. In the aftermath of the Sept 2001 World Trade Center attacks, I remember well meaning ppl in church in Staten Island where I attended giving testimonies about how they or their relatives lives' were spared, but not one time did the pastor or any leader tell the parishioners to seek out professional therapy.
Sadly, it took me 7 years later for when I developed Panic Disorder to seek professional help.
Unbelievable, huh? That's why when I read that Bland had thought / and or attempted suicide before that she had some mental health issues and that the boisterous, strong, young Black lady we saw arguing with the policemen wasn't as strong as she appeared. There is no such thing... Strong Black Women... All women are weak compared to men both physically and spiritually... And we were on purpose created that way irrespective our color or ethnicity. Perhaps, we've taken on the image of the strong, invisible, super woman because of lack of male leadership in some of our households., but that's not who or what we are; furthermore, I believe it to be the plan of the enemy of the black woman's soul to isolate us and keep us suffering in silence about our true selves... We are vulnerable just like every other woman, Caucasian, Asian, African, etc and there is nothing wrong with saying so.
There us strength in numbers rather than in our silence. I exercise, take my medication, talk to my counselor/family, God and still have days that feel unbearable. It's a day by day journey for any one suffering from Depression.
