Final Discussion: Becoming a Thought Leader Revisited.
A thought leader is truly examining and researching a topic that you can
contribute to. Being a thought leader ignites you to search for the
truth.(E. Spratto, Foundations of Doctoral Study in Psychology, 2021). It
has always been a passion of mine to focus on spiritual bypass within the
African American Community and the Lack of Mental Health Services. I
spent a lot of time in deep thought about the relationship and importance
of mental health with satan/demonic attachments. While my experiences
with poor mental health were negatively shaped by my environment, I
began to look at mental health from a new perspective. I felt the most led,
by the Lord, to dismantle the stigma attached to mental health within the
Black community. However, I have begun seeing an increase in African
Americans receiving mental health services. What I hypnotized was
people within that community are more likely to seek prayer and support
from their church than to seek professional help (i.e., therapists,
counselors, etc.). Through careful research, I have identified that times
have changed as it relates to mental health within the black community.
I do believe that the Lord is still leading me down this path to break the
negative stigma off of mental health services and to provide statistical
research on the imperativeness of mental health in the African American
community. I have considered changing the specifics of my research.
However, I have not been able to identify the path that God is leading me.
This will come through prayer and fasting. After reading Jordan & Zanna
(1999) and having to review other articles, I have found more focus points
that will allow my research to be unique. I have been able to collect data
on the commonalities and differences between each article I ran. I have
been able to analyze the statistical test they chose to use to display their
data, also their sample sizes. I have had additional time to deliberate and
make my own personal reflections regarding the methods and results of
other studies, which has started another fire in me to be a thought leader
in this area.
The Lord is leading me to grow in this area personally. While praying upon
this, the Lord revealed to me that I must first abide by the principles I am
trying to share. I must first align myself with my viewpoints and ideas and
seek outside mental health services, although I am active in church. This
research topic is very convicting, I must say.
As I reflected upon Sproul (2000)Consequences of Ideas,I realized that
even the thought of African Americans seeking mental health services will
result in a consequence of some sort.Of course, we can outline the pros
of African Americans receiving mental health services being that we are a
healthier population, and we will see a decrease in depression and
anxiety. However, the potential consequence to my previous idea is an
influx of African Americans looking for treatment and not having enough
African Americans in positions to treat those who are searching. Another
potential consequence is African Americans not working with other races
with the idea that they will not be culturally competent enough to provide
quality care.
As I reviewed my very first discussion post, I have been able to see how
my thoughts and research findings have changed. I have been ignited to
continue to be a thought leader in this area, but in a different direction.
God is challenging me to make a difference.
References:
Jordan, Christian H., and Zanna, Mark P. (1999) How to Read a Journal
Article in Social Psychology
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/122994/modules/items/17172556
Spratto, E. (2021). What is a Ph.D.? [video file]. Retrieved from
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/122994/pages/watch-what-is-a-ph-dot-
d?module_item_id=17172111
Sproul, R.C. (2000). The consequences of ideas: Understanding the
concepts that shaped our world.
Crossway.
