By: Sean Copeland
Since 2008, July has been observed as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. Originally established by mental health organizations, the observance is meant to draw attention to various illnesses including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and others in communities of color. It also focuses on suicide prevention. The observance was started to honor Bebe Moore Campbell, an author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked tirelessly to highlight mental health issues in minority communities. The eradication of stigma in society related to mental health discussions is another priority during the month.
According to research, approximately 1 in 5 Americans live with a mental illness. The CDC reports that about 1 in 25 U.S. adults live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. Over 1 in 5 teens have dealt with a serious mental illness. There are more than 200 types of mental illnesses overall, with depression and anxiety disorders being the most commonly diagnosed. In the U.S., the African American community comprises about 13 percent of the population but nearly 20 percent of the people living with mental illness, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Historically, mental health hasn’t been openly discussed, especially in communities of color. For Black men, the issue of mental health is even more taboo. Terms like “crazy,” “delusional,” “weak,” and “soft” are often used to describe those battling mental health issues. Many Black people have developed a thick skin to deal with the challenges faced over the years, but more progress is needed in discussing mental health among Black men.
Challenging Cultural Stigmas
Historically, the Black community has been hesitant to receive therapy, often resulting in other, less healthy, ways to cope with the traumas of daily life. Concerns about being labeled crazy, the possibility of being committed to inpatient hospitalization, or children being taken away from their homes contribute to this hesitancy. In 2020, the pandemic caused a significant decline in mental health, particularly among African Americans dealing with COVID-19 and protests against racism and police brutality. Lockdowns, unemployment, food shortages, and restrictions on doctor visits led to a major public mental health crisis. During this time, many Black families began to consider therapy, although some still find it daunting.
One way to address mental health in Black men is through mental health services for Black boys before they become men. Quinn Walker, LMHC, a crisis services clinician at Easter Seals MORC in Walled Lake, deals with psychiatric emergencies due to depression, suicide, and other behavioral health issues. Walker works with children in crisis intervention, receiving referrals from schools, parents, caregivers, and other clinicians.
She collaborates with their primary care team to offer help. “When I get calls from schools, I do suicide assessments, crisis stabilization, therapy, and evidence-based interventions. I work with them for up to a month,” Walker shares. “Parents should look out for drastic changes in behavior, trouble in school, peer relationships, and just being aware of your child and knowing when something is out of the norm for them,” she warns.
Black parents are still hesitant to get help for their children, with men showing the most resistance, feeling that opening up about feelings is futile. “I feel like growth still needs to happen. Especially with Black parents, I get a lot of Black fathers that say nothing is wrong with their children and they don’t want them to receive services. They teach them not to show their emotions and move on. They also tell them not to share what’s going on in the house,” Walker shares.
Vulnerability is another issue affecting the mental health of Black men. Many have been taught to toughen up, never show emotion, and push through rough circumstances, even at the cost of their mental or physical health. Opening up about mental health issues is taboo. However, simply opening up and talking about issues with a trusted source is beneficial for mental health.
Xavier Stroughter, a 3D Printing Technician in Detroit, has suffered from severe anxiety for years. He combats his condition by practicing vulnerability. “One of the reasons I feel comfortable opening up is I see everyone else has their own personal struggles. My take is if I allow myself to feel comfortable removing my mask, maybe they will also,” Stroughter says.
His anxiety affects his daily life but over time he’s taken a lot of steps to combat it. “It’s so much more manageable now than it used to be. I used to not enjoy being among people until the last 2-3 years. Around 3 years ago, I started biking, going out socially, and I think those are the main things I’ve done.” In addition to those things, eating better, self-care, and grooming have helped Stroughter a lot with his anxiety management. As for being vulnerable, he says that he treats everything on a case-by-case basis. “Sometimes I use vulnerability as a way to break the ice with people. If I say something strange, I’ll laugh about it and use it as a way to get through it. Sometimes I feel like I need to express how I feel and that I don’t feel good at that moment. Then, there are times that I feel like I can get outside myself and see whatever is giving me anxiety or annoying me is trivial and I can deal with it,” he shares.
Promoting Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
In July 2022, 988 was established as the national hotline for suicidal crises. Those experiencing thoughts of suicidal ideation can dial or text 988 to speak with a trained crisis counselor nationwide. “Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, you can talk with a well-trained counselor who can speak with you about your needs. Part of that is disrupting mental health stigma,” says Johnell Lawrence, Director of Equity & Belonging at Vibrant Emotional Health in New York City.
Lawrence, with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, is committed to helping those in BIPOC communities find the resources they need to live healthier lives. His team works on active community engagement, reaching out to HBCUs, Black communities, and Hispanic and Latin communities to promote the 988 hotline and address barriers to accessing it.
In his daily responsibilities, Lawrence works towards promoting and advocating for 988 as a trusted and welcoming service for all communities. He says that part of that work includes disrupting the stigma around mental health and also the fear of reaching out to such a service. One of the most persistent crises of suicidal ideation is amongst older men. Lawrence revealed that this is something that his team is looking to tackle deeply over the next year.
“In particular, Black and brown communities have been targets of very harmful forms of legislation and life that keeps piling up,” Lawrence says. “A key point in this work is getting more and more Black and brown folks into the realm of social work, mental health, and psychology. The numbers amongst our representation within these fields is not changing. We really need more folks to see this work and see these pathways as ones that are deeply impactful just like law, education, nursing and medicine. These are very vital fields. If we’re looking to disrupt the stigma and the resistance towards engaging these systems, we also have to have a deeper effect and presentation within these systems as well so we can help shape this work and what care looks like. When our communities come in for support they feel completely helped from start to finish.”
Moving Forward
#BlackBoyJoy, a social media hashtag, developed in recent years to show positive images of Black men experiencing happiness and contentment. Popularized in 2016 by Danielle Young, a writer for The Root, the hashtag shows Black men smiling and being carefree instead of defensive or unapproachable.
“The reimagination of what it means to be masculine needs to happen collectively within the system and individually. Softness is still sexy in manhood. Having emotions and sharing them with those you care about is thoughtful and masculine,” Lawrence adds.
Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) list resources catering to people of color. Some resources include Black Men Heal, Black Mental Health Alliance, Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, and Brother You’re On My Mind. NAMI supports public policies that reduce mental health inequities, like increasing access to culturally informed, evidence-based mental health care, and creating a more racially and ethnically diverse mental health workforce.
While there is still much work to be done to reduce stigma around mental health in the Black community, organizations like NAMI and the Michigan Psychological Association provide helpful tools for Black men and the entire community. This July and year-round, let’s take care of our mental health and well-being. Let’s start taking care of ourselves and each other.
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