By Dianne Anderson

Some call it down in the rut, the blues, gloom and doom, the blahs, or depression.

Some of it is connected with physiological changes, like teen hormones, menopause, male menopause, or it could just be dealing with the high cost of living. People are financially stressed out, and some are not sure where their next meal is coming from.

Those are all trigger points that naturally spawn fear or anxiety. It is normal.

“When you stop feeling, that’s when you need to be concerned,” said Phyllis Clark, Founder and CEO of The Healthy Heritage Movement, Inc. “The most important thing that someone can do when you feel off or consistently feeling off, you need to seek help, go. You won’t be labeled crazy.”

One reason she thinks that her Broken Crayons Still Color Project has become successful is that it gives the community learning tools to identify negative emotions, and learn to shift their attention for better mental health.

Feelings are sometimes like the weather, they change.

“Put some scent in the air or throw on some music, just to get out of the space you’re in, it’s called grounding,” she said. “By the time you do the things that you’re supposed to do, you forgot what you were sad about.”

Clark started her Healthy Heritage effort in 2004, drawing hundreds from the Black community out for free medical screening with nurses, doctors and mobile units to the Cal Baptist University parking lot. It was long before health outreach was trending.

This year, the Broken Crayons project is calling on faith-based community for partnerships. They also like to spotlight churches to share their own supportive message of their ministry.

She said mental health services have always been needed in the Black community, but getting that help in a culturally competent way has not always been accessible. Internationally known clinical psychologist Dr. Gloria Morrow, who created the project under the nonprofit Healthy Heritage program, teaches the classes.

“I’m not going to say it wasn’t there because mental health services are available for anybody and everybody, but when it’s not accessible to you, it’s not available – bottom line,” Clark said.

In facing everyday life drama, she said it is okay to not feel okay. At times, circumstances take people out of their normal mental routines and throw them off balance.

“We might seek coping skills to get through,” she said. “It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you, it doesn’t mean you’re sick. It’s ok to feel, that’s part of life.”

Pastor Karen Sykes is excited for her church to join the project, which is also held in association with the Riverside NCNW Section, an organization heavily focused on community health and wellness.

In the past, Pastor Sykes said the church hasn’t typically talked about mental health, other than to say to pray about it. But, she said that as some people need a meal with their prayer, others may need extra help with mental health.

“I do believe God heals obviously through His Word, heals through information from other people and heals through medicine. Yes, mental struggles happen globally, but there’s a disparity within the Black community, especially among African American women,” said Sykes, associate pastor at Crossword Church in Moreno Valley.

Black women tend to push their emotions far down for the good of the family. She said it’s time to open the doors to know they are not alone, and there are tools that can help with healing.

“We tend to stuff our feelings, Big Mamma did this, my mother did it, I can do it too, not realizing the dynamic of their experiences are very different than what Big Mama experienced,” she said.

In her church, many women understand the need for counseling to help with life’s challenges and heard about the Broken Crayons project from others in their Bible study. Her church offers counseling and spiritual guidance with members who are licensed clinical social workers, marriage family therapists, and practicing professionals.

The church also provides access to other necessities, such as help with housing, utilities, clothing, and outreach to help access groceries.

“We’re looking at Matthew when Jesus said when I was hungry you fed me, when I was naked you clothed me, [meaning] when I didn’t have a roof over my head you housed me,” she said. “Those things we as a body of believers should practice regularly, and stop making people feel bad when they don’t have all the answers.”

Due to COVID, she said many in the community did not have health checkups. There has been a tremendous loss of life in recent times, which also has a mental health impact. She hopes the Broken Crayons project is not a one and done, that women in the church will bring the techniques back to encourage others.

“[If] they’re struggling with loss of a loved one, or having decisions about the loss of a job or other things, our grief share support group meets weekly. In April, we’re starting a divorce care support group for those not knowing how to get going again,” she said.

Just learning how to breathe deep can make a difference in Cortisol levels, being intentional, taking time to withdraw, and reflect.

“Just like the Lord did, get away from it all, be in God’s presence and remember that you are a human being too. Go on excursions, sit under a tree, read a book, take a nap. Walk in nature, and gain more clarity.”

For more information on how to get involved in future classes, contact

Healthy Heritage, call (951) 682-1717 or see www.healthyheritage.org