Four professionals whose work is shaping Black mental health.
Douglas Middleton
Douglas Middleton, a veteran NFL safety, is solidifying his role as a mental health advocate through his organization, Dream the Impossible. After losing his best friend to suicide, Middleton founded the nonprofit to address the stigma surrounding mental health and to send the message that one’s community and access to resources are factors in mental wellness. Middleton admits that, even with access, there are some challenges. “People have to want to get help. You can preach ‘Therapy works’ all you want, but it’s not going to matter if people don’t want help,” Middleton says. Middleton has been open about his depression. Through Dream the Impossible, he focuses on high school athletes through events such as “You’re Not Alone 7 on 7,” which offers support and shares information about the importance of being mentally healthy. Middleton holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
Spirit
Spirit is self-proclaimed “mental health revolutionary” who has a media presence that mirrors her passion for mental wellness. As a National Certified Counselor, licensed professional counselor, certified child custody evaluator and certified forensic mental health evaluator, she is a resounding voice in the mental health industry. From her start on a nightly radio talk show called “The Pleasure Zone,” which aired in Atlanta from 2003 to 2004, Spirit has shared her expertise on other radio shows in Chicago and Miami. She first gained national exposure on television, when she appeared on “The Tyra Banks Show” in 2008, and has made guest appearances on radio and television programs like “Love Goals,” “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” and “Therapy for Black Girls.” Currently, Spirit the owner and clinical director of T2S Enterprises, a mental health practice based in Atlanta.
David Julius Ford
David Julius Ford is a board-certified counselor and higher education professional who is also an assistant professor at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. He earned his Master of Arts in counseling and his doctorate in counselor education. Ford, Ph.D., has taught undergraduate and graduate classes, including “Introduction to Counseling,” “Multicultural Counseling” and “Theories of Counseling.” His counseling and research interests include multiculturalism, the LGBTQIA community and people living with HIV/AIDS. He has also taken an interest in the experience of Black male college students (specifically at predominantly white colleges). Ford is a member of the New Jersey Counseling Association, where he previously served as president-elect. He is on the planning committee for the National Cross-Cultural Counseling and Education and on the board of directors for the LGBTQ Scholars of Color Network.
Rwenshaun Miller
As a mental health advocate and counselor, Rwenshaun Miller has helped others understand and take accountability for their own mental health. His career, which spans more than a decade, has allowed him to explore and understand the challenges of those with limited resources who need counseling. After Miller was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he was inspired to start Eustress Inc., a nonprofit that concentrates on diminishing stigmas about mental health in Black and brown communities. Miller uses his experiences to show that all ages and social groups can be impacted by the lack of mental wellness. With that, Miller has taken his message from classrooms to boardrooms. He has participated as a speaker, mentor and coach with corporate clients such as Google, Novant Health, the University of Georgia, Altria, the YMCA, and Ben & Jerry’s. Miller is the CEO of The Good Stress, a therapy practice in Charlotte, North Carolina.
First published in Black Mental Health Today, Winter 2021 (No. 2).