Restoring Hope Recovery Group

“Compounded by the expectation that Black women are expected to ceaselessly perform labor for society’s comfort or entertainment, famous athletes like Osaka and the Williams sisters are in a double bind due to their notoriety and talent. Their fame reduces the public’s ability to empathize with their personal struggles, while society at large expects athletes to perform, perform, perform, even two years into a pandemic where many are critiquing our culture’s obsession with productivity. For those who are descendants of the enslaved, this racially coded expectation only demonstrates how much their worth is seen by others as being attached to their labor.”

There is so much packed in this quote. When you see the phrase “protect Black women” it also includes celebrities and famous athletes. We are often carrying the cultural expectation to be strong and to not show emotion, making it even more difficult for us to talk about our mental health needs.

Naomi Osaka Is Just Getting Started The four-time Grand Slam champion on her life-changing year.

Debbie Stevens, PhD, APRN-BC, PMHNP-BC, brings a wealth of experience to her role at Restoring Hope Recovery Group in Atlanta, Georgia. A mental health clinician, Dr. Stevens has over 20 years of experience treating individuals with various mental health conditions. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, before completing a Master of Science in Nursing at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where she remained to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing. Over that time, she’s provided medication management, psychiatric assessments, and has overseen complex medication regimens for patients with mental illness and substance use disorders. Dr. Stevens brings her extensive career experience to Restoring Hope Recovery Group with the goal of helping clients ultimately lives their best lives.

May is Mental Health Awareness month! Let’s all continue to work towards reducing stigma!