Black Men and Mental Health Part 1
Hello Friends! May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I am excited to present the first of three mini posts about the importance of mental health from three Black Men that I deeply admire.
We live in a world where unfortunately vulnerability has been likened to being weak, especially among men. I’d like to take this time to express my deepest gratitude for them being open with not only me, but themselves, and you all as well. Before we get into today’s guest, there are a few statistics I would like to share that illustrate the status of mental health for Black Men.
According to the American Psychological Association “26.4% of Black and Hispanic men ages 18 to 44 who experienced daily feelings of anxiety or depression were likely to have used mental health services, compared with 45.4% of non-Hispanic White men with the same feelings” and “When Black men do seek help and would prefer a same-race provider, it can be difficult finding Black psychologists, since they still make up only about 4% of the doctoral-level psychology workforce”
So, today I have the pleasure of introducing Dr. Bryson Henry. He is someone who I witnessed go through the grueling process to obtain his Doctorate, which of course came with it’s own unique set of challenges. A huge thanks to Dr. Henry for contributing the first mini-blog post of this series:
“In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I would like to underline the importance of mental health and the importance of continuing to monitor it and seeking treatment if it becomes a problem for us. I have personally fought with my mental health throughout my adult life, and I understand how it can feel like a never-ending battle at times. It is common to believe that your pleas are not being heard and that you are always alone. Going through this experience has taught me that it is okay to feel unhappy, and that if you need assistance, there are resources (and specialists) available to assist you. It is never too late, and remember that you are strong, loved, and will get through anything you are going through. Most importantly, you are not alone. ”
As a Black woman, it can sometimes be hard to understand the unique challenges that Black men may face when dealing with mental health, but it is my goal that this mini-series sparks some conversation, reflection, and action among all of us.
Stay tuned for the next mini-post!
Love Always,
CDOG