It is imperative for Black men to find healthy ways to cope with stress and trauma to extend our lives and improve our well-being. In an interview, J. Cole discussed his challenges with depression and discussed how he came to understand, “It’s ok to not be ok.” J and other Black men are not alone.
As far back as I can recall, my grandfather, Eugene Shelton, always stressed the importance of managing stress and anger. A tall, quiet, and often unassuming man, my grandfather possessed a profound understanding of the challenges faced by Black men. Affectionately known as Pop Pop, he experienced his journey into manhood during Jim Crow, an infamous period in American history marked by race riots, lynchings, and legalized racial segregation.
Listening to my grandfather lament about the racial hierarchy in this country, when I was only eight years old, was simultaneously overwhelming and confusing. I was too young to appreciate his wisdom and dire warnings that being Black in America could take an emotional toll on our lives. I was much too young to fully grasp the weight of his advice, but as a young adult, I remembered the conversations that often took place during our fishing trips.
A therapeutic pastime, fishing has since become one of my favorite hobbies and a primary method of self-care.
Little did I know, my grandfather, with his boundless wisdom at the time, was laying the foundation for my deep understanding of the emotional needs of Black men. These conversations with my grandfather later underscored the importance of self-care and coping strategies I incorporated into my life to manage my mental health.
I consider these impromptu conversations and fishing trips to be life savers.
Regrettably, while growing up in West Baltimore, I became accustomed to drive-by shootings and suicides. There were far too many instances of suicide by cop, or ‘Menticide,’ a term popularized by clinical psychologist Bobby Wright in the 1970s to explain the phenomenon in which Black men would place themselves in situations to be killed by the police. These occurrences had a profoundly negative impact on my adolescent and adult years.
As I entered my late twenties, I found myself facing a multitude of challenges, including the impending arrival of fatherhood. Despite the storms I navigated, I had a lot going for me: an undergraduate degree, a master’s in education, and a solid reputation for my effective work with young Black males in Baltimore. This work, which I was proud of, was a testament to my community commitment and marked significant progress in my personal growth and resilience while inspiring hope for the future.
In the blink of an eye, I made the cold and callous decision to take control of my life.
My personal journey is a testament to the challenges faced by an increasing number of Black men. I was fortunate through family support to benefit from counseling and learning tools to better cope with the storms that are omnipresent in society. It’s crucial to understand that many Black men lack the family and community support needed to heal from their scars and live productive lives. As a society, we need to foster this support to help them thrive.
According to a 2021 Journal of the American Medical Association study, Black men disproportionately attempt suicide at far greater rates than other racial groups.
The study also revealed that suicide rates among adolescent Black males increased by 47% from 2013 to 2019[2], underscoring the urgent need for immediate and sustained action. This study should not only inform us but also compel us into action, driving efforts for increased awareness, research, and resources. The time to act is now, and our commitment to Black men and their families is crucial.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has initiated studies, and others are indicating that coping with racism, economic pressures, childhood trauma, navigating stress, social media exposure, and mistrust in medical institutions are among the reasons for alarming rates of suicides and suicide attempts. We must understand and acknowledge the prolonged impact that white supremacy and racism have on the mental health of Black Americans. The deaths of Emmet Till, Michael Brown, and George Floyd caused emotional stress and trauma within Black communities nationwide.
The death of Tyre Nichols remains in my psyche as a prime example of the challenges facing Black men.
Nichols was beaten to death by five Black police officers who were part of a rogue (Scorpion) division of the Memphis Police Department. It’s possible to hear him on the body cam footage saying, “I did not do anything.” Seeing their brethren killed by police and others on video creates high levels of depression and anxiety for Black men. It also establishes a survival mindset in them.
“Being a Black man in America is like being a spectator at your own lynching.”
That prophetic quote by playwright and poet Ishmael Reed highlights the sentiments of a large percentage of Black men in America, regardless of their educational and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Over the last few decades, mental health advocates and clinicians have sounded the alarm about the impact Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), or those occurring before age 18, have had on Black men and boys. Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Executive Director of New York University’s McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, points out the alarming fact that
Black male youths ages five to twelve are twice as likely to die by suicide as their white peers. This data sparked congressional hearings several years ago; however, little has changed in terms of advocacy and funding to address this troubling phenomenon.
Further exacerbating the problem for many Black men is the lack of access to high-quality mental health services. Based on U.S. Census reports, the American Psychological Association indicates Black people are seven times more likely than white people to live in communities with little to no access to mental health care, despite having the same risk of mental illness.
This data underscores the urgent need for increased access to mental health services in our communities.
The importance of this issue is tremendous; we must advocate for and work towards increased access to mental health services for Black men, a matter of life and death for many of them.
These challenges, coupled with isolation and loneliness, are risk factors for suicidal ideation. Our ‘Epidemic of Loneliness,’ a term used to describe the widespread and increasing feelings of social isolation and disconnection, as indicated in the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 report, contributes to large numbers of male suicides.
One of the larger challenges facing the mental health community is how to create a pipeline to educate and train the next generation of Black mental health professionals. This education is a crucial need we must address, as, sadly, Black psychologists represent only four percent of U.S. practicing psychologists. However, with increased community and institutional support, we can work toward improving this number and providing necessary mental health resources for our community.
Despite the whispers about Black men and suicide, few, if any, national organizations focus on Black men and the far-reaching implications their suicides have on the preservation of their families. Unfortunately, suicidal ideation, attempts, and death are underreported and unrecognized in society.
The following recommendations are a call to action to increase advocacy, prevention, and mental health services for Black men while underlining the urgent need for increased support and resources:
▪ Increase awareness and advocacy among Black churches to offer services to address suicides among Black men.
▪ Magnify community education around Black men and suicide, highlighting available community-based resources.
▪ Expand and evaluate grassroots men’s support groups and primary vehicles to address depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among Black men. Highlight groups such as Black Men’s Lab (Atlanta) and Black Men Heal (Philadelphia) as best practice models for promoting the healthy social and emotional development of Black men.
Below are a few other recommended strategies that are needed to address the silent epidemic of Black male suicides:
▪ Increase research for implementation and funding for grassroots organizations addressing mental health access and treatment for Black men.
▪ Increase research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that’s focused on treatment models and best practices for addressing suicides among Black men.
▪ Establish greater collaborations among organizations to leverage existing funding to support and advocate for mental health treatment for Black men and boys.
David C. Miller, Ph.D
David C. Miller, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow and Researcher with Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy (MIFRP), Co-Lead for the Baltimore Rites of Passage Initiative and author of “Dare To Be King: What If the Prince Lives.”
Images by Oyemike Princewill and Nathan Allotell on Unsplash
