Following the release of a video featuring actress Maia Campbell (best known from In the House with LL Cool J and Debbie Allen) shouting obscenities in an incoherent state, the internet began buzzing.
However, much of what was reported was that she was a prostitute with a drug problem, failing to mention her mental state…like many in the black community who suffer in silence when it comes to mental illness.
Maia has a co-occurring disorder after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder/manic depression and a substance abuse problem, which has symptoms similar to schizophrenia. According to a recent statement issued by her stepfather and grandmother, Maia “is in treatment and in a facility” getting the help she needs.
But there are so many in our communities who fail to do so.
We tend to rely on family, religious or social communities for emotional support, rather than turning to health care professionals. Because of this, mental health issues may be perceived as a failure of our faith. But there is no reason we can’t utilize all of our connections to deal with such things.
There’s also the general suspicion many of us have for the medical field and psychiatry in particular. It’s not easy to forget a time when blacks were unwitting and unwilling subjects of medical experiments such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment.
The disconnect between psychiatric treatment and training and the black community and culture poses yet another issue. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only 2 percent of psychiatrists, 2 percent of psychologists and 4 percent of social workers are black. On top of that, nearly one in four blacks is uninsured making sound mental health less of a priority for those who can’t afford it.
The rise in suicide among young, black males is linked to both the rise of violence in our culture and a lack of awareness about the nature of depression and the absence of counselors who are culturally sensitive enough to recognize depression in black youth.
Churches and community groups are the key to increasing awareness about mental health issues and the stigma associated with them. By encouraging community members to join the mental health profession and to seek mental health medical attention when needed, we will improve mental health awareness in our communities. Whether we want to admit it or not, it’s something that needs to be done.
Dang I didn’t realize she has those problems going on. I really hope and pray she gets the help she deserves.
Its sad to hear what has become of Maia Campbell but now atleast she can get the help she needs. But mental illness affect all of us not matter what race you are no one is immune to them I hope her situation spreads light to this issue.
but what I want to know is…where were her friends? her family? her past co-workers? didn’t she have ANYONE who could have helped her?
Some sad shit!….She’s probably this way because her career hasnt catastroped the way she wanted it to. She hasnt had a role since “In The House”. I pray for Ms. Maia
Wishin her a speedy recovery
I’m glad Maia is now receiving treatment for her addiction and mental illness. I watched the video and what is really sad is that black people see her condition and do nothing to help her, but put videos like this on the internet to exploit her in front of the world our people would rather laugh at her with a camera in her face than offer her any type of help. We are out own worst enemy and we all need prayer.
Damn, Damn, Damn (Good Times)…LL Cool J please help her…Damn! So sad…
mental illness is not related to how successful you are, it is something a person has no control over. With help (be it medication, professional therapist etc) sometimes a person can lead a successful life. I’m sure many people love her especially her family and friends. i like her a lot and i only saw her on tv! So, to ask Where are her friends and family is just ignorant and hurtful. I’m sure they are there praying for her everyday. You can’t love away any illness. My heart goes out to them and anyone dealing with an illness.
I hope she gets the treatment she needs,god help her.
wow… i saw the video and it reminds me so much of my aunt who was in that situation for so many years and is managing her illness now… its so hard sometimes to get them help especially when they refuse it… my prayers go out to her and her family that she can overcome this
Yes it is so sad! She did have 1 other role besides In the House. Last I saw her was on the Disney movie with Tia, Tamera, and Tajh Mowry called 17 Again. It’s still so unfortunate how it seems her mental illness has consumed her. You’d be so surprised @ the things people struggle with on a constant everyday basis besides the normal everydady struggles that we all battle with from day to day. I pray she gets better. God Bless.
I believe her mother, Bebe Moore Campbell, died of cancer in 2006
@ #8, if what you said is directed towards me, and i believe it is, how is that ignorant or hurtful? and please read what i said properly. i asked where WERE they, as in the PAST. Where were they when she fell into prostitution and drugs. I wasn’t referring to the mental disorder. and why is she only getting help NOW?
I saw that video of her a couple of weeks ago. I’m glad that she’s getting help.
Excellent post CL. I know a few people with mental disorders and it’s tough for all involved. I’m glad to hear that Maia is receiving treatment for her issues.
Thanks for posting. The Black Community doesn’t like to address these issues. I have twin cousins who are mentally ill. Both went to Ivy League schools and are very, very intelligent but they suffered in silence cause they were embarrassed. We (the family) didn’t know til a few years ago when one was living on the streets…literally..it had gotten that bad but no one wanted to tell anyone. They have a half sister who has the same illness. So I guess it can be genetic.
Its a shame that the guy put on her blast like that (making that video), but what the devil means for evil, the lord always turns it around for good. I’m glad she’s getting treated. And I’m quite sure that the person who recored is very ashamed because people have been going hard him, and they should.
Don’t you guys see that this post is bigger than Maia? Although I’m sure her family and friends are thankful for all the well wishes, this post is not directed solely at her, but on the black community AS A WHOLE using her situation as an example since it was the most recent.
CL I appreciate posts like this, black history spotlight, graduates, and any other post that is informative and uplifting.
The Lord willl know what to do. Just keep praying 4 her
Its real refreshing how CL really posts on everything besides just random pics of celebs. I think this issue really digs into who we need to uplift each other as people instead of costantly downing each other. Yeah, I’m guilty of that at times, but really if somebody is dealing with any situation or problem I think we should try and help that person. Never know when you’ll need that helping hand.
There is a distrust of the medical field for us and its not like it is unfounded. It can be hard to find a health care provider you trust. I hope Maia gets better.
She still a beautiful woman. Im glad she is getting help she deserves. The dudes that made their video. ha what goes around comes around.
She lost her mother back in 2006 and ever since she has been like this. I hope she gets it together and than comeback into the spotlight and just do it big and show the losers what she is all about.
Well written!!!!!! I feel so much more aware and the Syphillis things shocked me. Thanks to you guys for keeping the young community Black or White aware of the social issues!
Like someone else said, mental illness just does not develop because of the lack of someone’s success. the truth of the matter is, her mother( Author Bebe Campbell Moore) wrote a book on this issue a few years before her death, called 72hr Hold. It was a great book. It has been said that it was actually about Maia, who has been battling this sadly for some time now. Such a beautiful young woman. I am just glad they were able to get her into a facility for help before she ended up being another lost tragedy. She may have had it under control when she was compliant with her medications. Also the passing of her mom could not have been easy on her also. ‘The best of luck to her.
THANKS FOR THIS POST, CAUSE SOME LIGHT MOS DEF NEEDS TO BE SHED ON THIS TOPIC…STOP BEING AFRAID OF HELP AND GET IT!
Glad she is getting help but she seems more schizo than anything
First let me say…this is why I appreciate ConcreteLoop…because it is more than the celebrity drama.
To see this video is very sad. Very very very sad. And Maia needs to find help. But not the kind of help that we all have grown accustom to. Frankly, I hate doctors…but more than half of them are in it for the $$$ not to help. And besides, if she goes to the doctor they will only prescribe her medicine (even if she goes to a shrink)…thats about it!
What happened to her support system?! People like her are like that because of the lack of support they receive. There usually alone and rarely interact with others, so they don’t get a chance to work on their social skills. Further more…she is HANGING AROUND THE WRONG PEOPLE! That dude, is a mess, his nephew is a mess, everyone participating in this is a mess. And that is the last place place shorty needs to be. I pray that her parents stay more involved in her life. She needs to be around positive people, that understands her situation, and loves her enough to not mess with it.
Sheesh.
If she really wants change, she will need to work hard! Stop using the drugs (which she is probably using to level out the emotional rollercoaster) and really tackle these issues head on! And you’re right J.Dakar…there need to be more African-Americans in other elements of society. It’s cool, but everyone can’t be in the limelight… there needs to be a Black teacher, businessman, doctor, counselor, etc…. because these roles also affect our future. And there is no one who can better teach Black-Americans people about being a Black-American than a Black-American.
Coming from a Black, licensed social worker, I’m shocked that only 4 percent of social workers are black. Although most of the clients I see in individual therapy are black due to the area in which I practice ( Washington D.C. Metro), I definately agree with the article in general. Black people believe there is a stigma associated with receiving mental health treatment. I disagree. Hell, even therapists have a therapist! Do this for yourself and your mental health!
This is such a great post. My heart goes out to Maia and her family and when I saw the internet buzz about her my heart just dropped. As a community we tend to keep things bottled up because some things are taboo. Mental health is not just in your mind, it is also a chemical imbalance. By being too ashamed or proud to seek help, we are keeping ourselves from so much freedom and happiness. This also goes to the whole healthcare issue as well, and speaks to the fact that we can NOT afford to let things go on the way they have been.
I was honestly just thinking about her the other day on what she was up too. I hope everything works out for her, such a pretty young lady.
I pray that all goes well with her. Her situation is so sad…and I hope that people began to realize that mental illness is a medical problem that needs to be addressed by capable doctors, along with family, and those who provide spirtual support…It’s a serious problem.
OMG!
I just watched the video & HOW SAD! That is a serious problem. When i watched it I got tears in my eyes literally and my mouth dropped along with my heart. I hope her being in re-hab helps her and my heart goes out to her & her family.
I HOPE SHE GETS BETTER, IM NOT GONE SAY PRAY BECAUSE I WILL PROBABLY FORGET TO PRAY FOR HER. BUT ANYWAYS ITS SOME PEOPLE ON THIS SITE WHO I THINK HAVE MENTAL ISSUES JUST FROM THEIR COMMENTS SO I HOPE ALL BLACK PEOPLE STEP IT UP AND STOP BEING EMBARRASSED ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS.
Wow I hope everything works out for her she is such a talented person.
@# 4. DJ,
Her ILLNESS has absolutely nothing 2 do with her rising or falling career.
Did you not read the whole entire post?
She suffers from BIPOLAR DISORDER/MANIC DEPRESSION & SCHIZOPHRENIA,
i;e MENTAL ILLNESS!!!!
Maia’s ILLNESS has nothing 2 do with her career, she was already popping!
She’s actually been MENTALLY ILL 4 a loOong time. Her ILLNESS took a turn 4 the worst, not because of her career, but because of her mother’s passing.
After her mother (whom she was very close to) died, Maia somehow lost her way, but hey, that’s where we all come in…………to give her all the love, caring & suport that we can give………….WITH THE POWER OF PRAYER!
“With all of my heart, soul & spirit, you’ll continue to be in my prayers Maia
!”
“GOD” BLESS YOU, & YOUR LOVED ONES.
AMEN.
@35
“We tend to rely on family, religious or social communities for emotional support, rather than turning to health care professionals.”
Our prayers are not going to help this girl. She needs a professional. After she gets the help she needs then we should pray that she stays well.
this post is beyond maia.
we really need to look at ourselves and evaluate what’s going on with family and friends who are going through similar circumstances as maia’s. alot of us tend to sweep these problems under the rug and it is not fair.
as someone battling a mental illness myself, i feel that it’s important that black people recognize this as a very important issue.
thanks j. dakar for posting.
@ 35, I’, sure her mom passing might have triggered an onset of a once control condition in her life. When tramauntic events happens in one’s life it can trigger an onset
Unfortunately,
I’m all too familiar with this particular post, because I too am currently suffering from my own mental illness (Severe Depression Anxiety/Social Phobia & Panic Attacks).
I’m now 28 & I’ve been suffering with these illnesses (in silence) 4 about 16 years.
I’ve always been sick, but my illnesses took a turn 4 the worst when I was 13.
I didn’t seek therapy until I was 20 or 21. I had a nervous breakdown, I don’t know what happened, all I know is I was upset about something that was small & minor, but my reaction was huge, major an sort of out of controll. My mother was confused, she didn’t know what to do, so she called 1 my sister 4 help. My sister came over, we talked, I told her that I think I’m sick, I think somethings seriously wrong with me,
& I need help etc; etc;……….and that was the night that I finally admitted that I was sick.
Now I’ll be honest, I’m not completely cured (I wish I was, but unfortunately, I’m not).
From the age of 20/21 to now, I’ve been in & out of therapy, mainly because of embarrassment. I’m currently in therapy right now, but I can see myself slowly drifting away from it, because I can’t seem 2 controll these humiliating feelings I have when I’m sitting in the waiting room with the other patients. I see some them rocking back & 4th & I see others talking 2 themselves and it overwhelmes me hard. Everytime I go 4 my appointments, I just sit there watching these people & I think 2 myself “I don’t belong here, I’ve got 2 get the hell away from here,”
and unfortunately, that’s what I do sometimes…………I bounce. If I could just get past the embarrassment, then maybe I can finally make some progress.
Sorry 4 talking a hole in you guy’s heads, but I just wanted 2 share my current story 2 show that even in the black community, Mental Illness is not a game.
Oh my goodness!! What happen to her?!? Seems like a totally different person. I pray that she gets the treatment she deserves. #39 I feel you and I’ll pary for you too. I too suffer from depression, but this is kind of out there. Good luck to you!!
I don’t think it’s the fact that alot of people don’t want the help, it’s the pain of dealing with health care and the doctors. I don’t suffer from mental issues but I do have health issues that keep me in the doctors office frequently, as a matter of a fact I just literally got back from a doctors appointment right now that’s why I found this post so interesting. But with all the co-pays and the sterile minded, indecisive doctors, and countless pills. It gets expensive and tiring having to keep up with everything.
DEPRESSION IS SOMETHING I CAN RELATE TOO ,PERSONALLY IT DOES TAKE A TOLL ON YOU PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, GLAD MAIA IS GETTING HELP MINUS ALL THE NEGATIVES HOPEFULLY HER VIDEOS CAN REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM WATEVA CAUSE
AND GET HELP.
Thank you CL for bringing this to the spotlight. And I feel aweful for her! She has a disorder and her mother Bebe Campbell Moore kept her together but she passed away from a brain tumor. I wish her the best, I really do.
I am glad that you all touched on this. I work in the MH field as a therapist and it carries such a stigma. you hear preachers dissing MH professionals and families shying away from treatment. It is very important to provide people with as much support as you can while they are having these issues. Keep our community informed…Thanks!
LORD PLEASE HELP ME…you are in my prayers…step one is admitting and you have admitted that embarrassment keeps you away, so discuss that with your therapist. Even if you feel like you do not belong there, be grateful that you have the opportunity to be there getting the help you need.
Good for her, on getting help finally. However, black people are strong, but we have forgotten what held us up through the pain and depression. We dont need medications like white folks. We dont need to let some doctor tell us that we are bi polar. If that is the case everybody is bi polar, because everybody has ups and downs thru life. When shit happends it happends, pray and keep it pushin, talk to god , family or friends. Let all of the pain and misery go by talking about it. Black people we are not mental, we are giving up to fast and want a quick fix, like a medications or drugs…thats just my opinion.
this is so true. im a mental health counselor and black people avoid our office like the plague. unless they’ve been forced by DFCS or some other agency, they do not come.
Why don’t we make awareness to every “community” instead of just one? I don’t see myself as part of a community. My community is everyone in this World and the whole World should be aware of all these things. Help one another.
Black people ARE mental…have u not read the post? At the end of the day we ALL have problems..black or white, sometime u need someone to talk to, friends and family are not professionals..it can be deep, and friends and fam dont always have the answers….and not everyone has friends or fam, then what? Pray works, but it always needs a force to back it up. Great Post..
@ 24 thank you for reminding people, that should’ve been posted as well. I sometimes wonder if that’s what Britney Spears’s issue was.
GREAT POST! I’m glad Maia is finally getting help. We all need to start taking mental health more seriously. Family and religion can only do but so much. Some need professional help, people who understand clearly what the problem is and how to deal with it.
im pretty sure her mom was mentally ill also… maybe schizo or bipolar. i didnt know she was prostituting tho. so many people self medicate with drugs to try to level themselves out when they’re bipolar cuz they go from one extreme to the other. she’s so beautiful i hope she does well with the proper care.
and please continue to hang on and continue ur therapy “lord please help me”.. it can be managable… u just gotta keep pressing day by day. hell moment to moment if u have to… stay close to God.
J. Dakar, Angel and Concreteloop family,
Great post!! I am really glad that you touched on this issue!!! I am currently in a PhD psychology program and, as one of few minorities, this subject is much needed!!! Of course, I have a vested interest in this topic because I will soon be a psychologist (*fingers crossed*). I personally believe that there should be more awareness on this subject; particularly as it pertains to our community. There are a plethora of myths and misconceptions regarding mental health issues and services. One that is particularly pertinent is the notion that seeking help contradicts religion or spirituality. This is not the case!! We can use our belief and faith as support and as a way to enhance therapy! Both religion/spirituality and therapy offer slightly different kinds of support, but the end result is the same — to help us heal, cope, and become better human beings!! The best thing we can do in this society is spread the message about mental health issues in an effort to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help!! Once again, I thank you for this post and hope that this is one of many efforts to spread the word on mental health and the black community!
Oh, BTW, I realize that there is mistrust in our community which stems from issues such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. From a historical perspective, it makes sense that black people, in general, tend to lack trust in mental health professionals. That is why it is especially important that we have more black people and minorities in general working in the mental health field!! Lately, there has been an emphasis on multicultural awareness and training in many counseling and psychology programs for ALL students; in an effort to increase multicultural sensitivity and competence. Unfortunately, this is not often as successful as it could be. Given this fact, the increase of minority mental health professionals is much needed and may help to alleviate some of the mistrust in our community.
One more thing I wanted to discuss….sorry for all of the posts!!
#39, Lord Please Help Me: It is very brave of you to share your story, thank you for discussing. I want you to know that you have nothing to be ashamed of. I know it may seem difficult, but keep going to your sessions. If your are experiencing feelings of shame or embarrassment, this should be discussed with your therapist. This will actually make for a good discussion in your session. Hopefully, he/she will help you understand the depth of that emotion; where it could stem from.
Unfortunately, a misconception is that only “crazy” people need therapy. Truth be told, we could all benefit from discussing our stressors and “baggage” with an objective, trained listener (which is essentially a therapist). The reality is, if you are a human being, you have been hurt, stressed out, overwhelmed, confused, etc. Therapy is not just for individuals with psychotic disorders, but for anyone who needs an objective listener. Often times our family, friends, significant others, etc. may not be objective and are always attempting to tell us what you “should do”, even though they may mean well. It takes great strength and self awareness to realize you may need help and to seek it out.
What is it about Hollywood that makes people this way. I know not all, but with a large number of stars this sort of thing happens. I mean the life expectancy is really poor for some of them. Elvis, MJ, Anna Nicole, Kurt Cobain, and countless others. So sad to see her like this. That guy she is with did not protect her at all. He just sat there and let her be exploited and joined in on the abuse. She is hurting and can tell by the way she spoke about losing her mom and her daughter. I pray God protects her and gives her peace. So glad that her stepfather and grandmother is in touch and she is being treated. There is hope.
I am really rooting for her recovery from the drugs and hope that her mental state can be stabilized and improved with treatment. This sort of thing shouldn’t happen to someone like her, especially when she’s got a shit load of people who could have lent a helping hand. These celebrities are all phony, selfish and greedy. If there’s nothing in it for them, they want no part in it. I’m just surprised that neither one of her costars offered any assistance, or ever spoke about it to draw some attention to her case. I really, really pray she gets through this given her background. Thank CL for once again proving why your Blog isn’t just about RICH BLACK CELEBRITIES.
“For I get Brad Pitt to smack you in the mouth and ask you why you smiling nigga!”
Woooowwwww wtf????
I was just watching the old episodes of South Central that they show on TV One. Now I understand why her career never really took off. She is obviously a beautiful girl. The stress of hollywood probably triggered her episodes. Then the death of her mother really pushed her over the edge. I feel really bad for her. I hope she can get off of the drugs because they only make mental health issues ten times worse. Then I hope she gets really good psychiatric treatment. Intensive therapy, medication, and a good support system to make sure she remains compliant are what she needs. Poor girl.
Also I would love to know what happened to the black men that used to respect and protect black women instead of exploiting and degrading them like these fools are doing Maia. Ugh that really pisses me off!
So I love CL for posting this, but at the same time I’m sad that I am just learning about this because I thought about it all night and could not sleep. I found some more info and videos on her at http://www.skinnydipp.com/?p=231
It’s real sad. I used to love this girl and when she played in the movie Trippen with Countess Vaughn and homeboy from the Cosby show, I used to think damn, she got it all. I’m disgusted at how these guys are using and abusing her also. It’s just sad all together. She will be in my thoughts and prayers, celebrity or not, I hope she gets the treatment she needs.