Providing Mental Health Care
I AM AFRICAN & I CAN is a women’s empowerment blog highlighting stories of Black women’s struggles and successes.
By Hadiatou Wann | 12/20/2024
Born and raised in Sierra Leone and the oldest of seven, Rugiatu Bahr, NP-BC from age six took on many responsibilities (cooking, cleaning, and helping take care of her siblings). When the war began in Liberia and then in other parts of Sierra Leone, she worked with the Sierra Leone Red Cross--a position she acquired in middle school through volunteering for the Red Cross Society.
As someone who has always loved helping others and witnessed her aunt being cared for with kindness and attentiveness throughout her illness, she knew early on that she’d one day aim to work in healthcare.
With the Red Cross she had the opportunity to dispense food and clothing for the needy, travel to different parts of Africa and was exposed to people internationally.
At the age of 23, she migrated to the United States alone. At first, she worked at a Law firm where she took on tasks such as translating and secretarial duties. After only 6 months of living with an aunt, she moved into her own apartment and worked as a home attendant-Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
Although Rugiatu was living comfortably and enjoying the fruits of her labor in the United States, back home her family’s lives were at risk. With a stable job and some experience in immigration, she filed for her parents and siblings. Quickly, she was able to get them out and into the United States as refugees when the war in Sierra Leone escalated.
Rugiatu earned her Registered Nurse Associates at the College of Staten Island and bachelor’s and master’s degree at Wagner College. For post graduate school, she completed a full certification at Regis College to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She believes that a woman can achieve success as a working mom and wife, a responsibility she admits she was able to juggle efficiently with the help of her supportive family (husband, parents, siblings, and friends).
The Sierra Leonian-Guinean nurse practitioner strongly believes she can “be in any space and do anything,” because of the challenges she faced in life. As she strove to excel in her academic studies, she experienced some roadblocks. During her last classes of the associate’s program, she was pregnant with her second son and dropped out of class to take a break. After delivery, she went back to school the following semester. She recalls pumping breast milk in the car on her way to clinicals.
Working as a float nurse at Staten Island University Hospital for five years allowed her to get knee-dip into different departments (labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care unit, Emergency, Psych, medical surgery, and education) to get a sense of where she’d eventually spend the rest of her career. Now from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., she works at Pathways Center in their outpatient clinic and inpatient crisis unit as a PMHNP.
Rugiatu is now a double board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in family and mental health care. This month, after realizing the overlooked need for mental health services in her community, she launched Bahr Holistic Psychiatry LLC., where she provides personalized short and long-term counseling and medication management through telehealth.
“I had firsthand experience on how mental illness affects not only the person, but also their loved ones. Seeing how mental illness affected some of my family members, I wanted to do something to help,” Rugiatu expressed.
“My purpose is to make a positive impact in the lives of others struggling with mental illness. I want to assist them overcome their difficult experiences and help them be the best version of themselves in a nonjudgmental environment,” she added.
The certified mental health nurse practitioner has worked with people who battle substance abuse, depression, anxiety, bipolar, trauma and schizophrenia. In some instances, initially loved one’s force patients to get help, but eventually patients see the positive impact professional help makes. One of the challenges Rugiatu has had while working in mental health is getting patients to buy into the care/treatment they need and follow through. Some would go half-way into the treatment. However, she remains patient, doesn’t hide anything, is truthful to them, and makes them understand that they’re part of the treatment and their cooperation will help them cross over to a more stable life.
Despite being one of the few Black and Muslim professionals in her field, she makes sure she knows what she’s doing and doesn’t cut corners. “It’s not luck. I believe Allah is on my side and what is best for me will happen,” Rugiatu says.
Usually, she is the person who prefers working behind the scenes. Rugiatu doesn’t mind stepping up to a leadership role and speaking out to make an impact on someone’s life. Adding to her busy life, she volunteers weekly (on Saturdays) in her community. As the Head of Health and Sanitation she provides education and practical tips on life after a stroke, medication management, dental, dietary, blood sugar, blood pressure, in Pular and Krio. In a few months, she plans to travel to Guinea and Sierra Leone to do more volunteer work with clinics.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Rugiatu in 2013 when we started a master’s program for Family Nurse Practitioner. Over the years we have evolved from colleagues to sisters. When I think of dedication and perseverance I think of Rugiatu. She’s an expert in her specialty of practice as a Psychiatry and family Nurse Practitioner and a true enthusiast of giving back to her community through volunteer efforts,” Dalu Lewis expressed.
A dreamer and doer, Rugiatu plans on opening a clinic in the United States and hospital in Sierra Leone. Her success story teaches us that when seeking our purpose, it’s important to expose ourselves to as many opportunities, absorb as much as possible, while remaining humble. And when we reach the mountain top, we must use our time, talents, and credentials to help others climb up to see the sunrise, too.
Inside the Life of A Mental Health Care Practitioner
“A Strong woman is someone who can be vulnerable yet knows her worth and is not afraid to advocate for herself.”
“It’s not Luck. I believe Allah is on my side and what is best for me will happen. If it doesn’t go my way, I just accept it and move forward.”
“Success for me is defined by overcoming failures and let it be my guide to doing better in achieving my goals.”
“The moment you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, then you have to get out of it.”
Connect with Rugiatu:
Instagram: bahr_holistic_pscyiatry
Schedule a FREE consultation with Rugiatu: https://bahrpsych.com/services
Read other success stories here: www.iamafricanandican.info/blog
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