About MARLENA

Marlena Debreaux

Where born: Heidelberg, Germany

Sign: Capricorn

Favorite treat: Tableside guacamole

Best show: Most recently I’ve been into Love is Blind on Netflix

Your bio in a tweet: Marlena of House Debreaux. First of her name. Queen of the Comeback. Protector of mine edges. Part-time Philosopher. Aspiring Abolitionist Scholar. Dance Aficionado. Bob’s Burgers Enthusiast. Closeted Creative. Black Girl Magician

When you walk into a room, what’s your theme music?: Talib Kweli’s “Get By” that or “Brick house” by the Commodores lol 

What does OurMHM mean to you?: OurMHM presents a unique opportunity to be part of a larger conversation that is happening in our culture about our divine right to mental wellness within the African American community. As a doctoral student studying community and developmental psychology, I am constantly thinking of ways to destigmatize and normalize conversations around mental health. Black Mental Health, in particular, is important because of the singular position of African Americans within the United States. Whether we are talking about American slavery, apartheid, or the effects of contemporary housing and school segregation, mental health has often taken the backseat to survival. Therefore, establishing mental health as a priority is more than an act of self-care, but of resistance to the conditions that would negatively impact it.