Exclusive Content:

Empowering Black Women in Business: Buy From A Black Woman with Nikki Porcher

As a Black woman, entrepreneur, and founder of 'Buy From A Black Woman,' Nikki Porcher has made it her mission to uplift Black-owned businesses and empower the Black community.

Stop Chasing Happiness: The Importance of Finding Joy in the Present Moment

You have big goals. A new house. A better car. That big job promotion. And once you achieve these, you’ll be happy, right? But why wait for happiness? Too often, the pursuit of our goals can render happiness a hostage. Steer clear of being wrapped up in the end goal and take time to enjoy the journey.  

5 Habits of Highly Confident Women

Confidence is a key component in success and happiness,...

Men’s Mental Health Matters More Than Ever

spot_img

It’s Black History Month, and that means it’s the perfect time to discuss mental health matters in our community. Many of us know that the Black Community faces many barriers regarding diagnoses and receiving adequate care. This is especially true for Black men, a demographic often lacking the space and resources required to help them overcome these hidden traumas. 

However, if the community ever hopes to flourish and reach its full potential, we must stop overlooking these severe issues plaguing our society. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the mental health issues affecting our men in the Black community and some ideas on how to fix them. 

Socioeconomic Woes

The various educational and financial issues in the Black community are no secret. However, many are unaware of the role these issues play in mental health. For instance, Black adults below the poverty line are twice as likely to experience severe emotional distress as those not experiencing such problems. 

Moreover, Black men are among the least likely demographics to receive adequate mental health care. According to the APA, “only 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.” This means despite being disproportionately affected by these issues, Black men are likely never to be treated for them. This factor alone may be one of the root causes of many pressing issues facing Black men. 

Mental Health Stigmas

Another major issue preventing Black men from getting much-needed mental healthcare is the inherent anti-mental health stigmas in the Black community. 

Distrust of the Medical Community at Large

For instance, distrust of the medical community is an issue that is very valid within the Black community. To this very day, the Black community is victimized by medical racism in many ways. 

Generally speaking, Black people are more likely to be ignored, injured, or even die in various healthcare settings. This is one primary reason many Black men are reluctant to use conventional medicine to treat them. In addition, black people are more likely to be misdiagnosed than white patients, which may further fuel the distrust of mental health services. 

Mental Health as a Weakness

Moreover, mental health issues are stigmatized; the Black community seems to see the need for such services as weak or even feminine. This prevents many men from boldly seeking the mental health help they need. 

Religious Ties

On the whole, the Black community is deeply religious. This makes them more likely to turn to religion for counsel than healthcare professionals. In other words, Black men are more likely to use the power of prayer or to seek advice and guidance from religious leaders than to turn to the mental health sector. 

Intervention Methods

If we ever hope to address and dismantle the barriers preventing Black men from receiving mental health care, we need to do the following:

  • Creating More Black Mental Health Experts: Since other demographics largely dominate the mental health sector, this makes it even less likely for them to seek these services. 
  • More Public Outreach: If Black men won’t come to mental healthcare, we need to bring mental healthcare to them.
  • Redefining Masculinity: As a community, we must evolve to a point where mental health care is encouraged for everyone. We need to stop equating mental health issues with weakness altogether. 

Overall, fixing the mental health issues within the Black community is an inside job. By creating more Black mental health experts, doing much public outreach, and redefining masculinity to include prioritization of mental health, we can help treat traumatized men while also learning to raise boys to address these issues in real-time, preventing long-term consequences. 

Latest

Empowering Black Women in Business: Buy From A Black Woman with Nikki Porcher

As a Black woman, entrepreneur, and founder of 'Buy From A Black Woman,' Nikki Porcher has made it her mission to uplift Black-owned businesses and empower the Black community.

Stop Chasing Happiness: The Importance of Finding Joy in the Present Moment

You have big goals. A new house. A better car. That big job promotion. And once you achieve these, you’ll be happy, right? But why wait for happiness? Too often, the pursuit of our goals can render happiness a hostage. Steer clear of being wrapped up in the end goal and take time to enjoy the journey.  

5 Habits of Highly Confident Women

Confidence is a key component in success and happiness,...

How to Lose Weight Without Losing Self-Love

Weight loss is never an easy journey. It can often be discouraging, challenging, and arduous. It doesn’t help that progress isn’t always immediate and goals aren’t always met, and that can impact self-love.

Newsletter

spot_img

Don't miss

Empowering Black Women in Business: Buy From A Black Woman with Nikki Porcher

As a Black woman, entrepreneur, and founder of 'Buy From A Black Woman,' Nikki Porcher has made it her mission to uplift Black-owned businesses and empower the Black community.

Stop Chasing Happiness: The Importance of Finding Joy in the Present Moment

You have big goals. A new house. A better car. That big job promotion. And once you achieve these, you’ll be happy, right? But why wait for happiness? Too often, the pursuit of our goals can render happiness a hostage. Steer clear of being wrapped up in the end goal and take time to enjoy the journey.  

5 Habits of Highly Confident Women

Confidence is a key component in success and happiness,...

How to Lose Weight Without Losing Self-Love

Weight loss is never an easy journey. It can often be discouraging, challenging, and arduous. It doesn’t help that progress isn’t always immediate and goals aren’t always met, and that can impact self-love.

Empowered Women, Empower Women: A Look at Mentorship and Sisterhood.

As women, we are the backbone of our communities and the glue that holds our families together. Our strength and resilience have been tested time and time again, but we continue to rise to the occasion.
Contributor
Contributor
This article written and submitted by third party.
spot_img

Stop Chasing Happiness: The Importance of Finding Joy in the Present Moment

You have big goals. A new house. A better car. That big job promotion. And once you achieve these, you’ll be happy, right? But why wait for happiness? Too often, the pursuit of our goals can render happiness a hostage. Steer clear of being wrapped up in the end goal and take time to enjoy the journey.  

5 Habits of Highly Confident Women

Confidence is a key component in success and happiness, and the good news is that it can be developed and strengthened over time. Confident...

How to Lose Weight Without Losing Self-Love

Weight loss is never an easy journey. It can often be discouraging, challenging, and arduous. It doesn’t help that progress isn’t always immediate and goals aren’t always met, and that can impact self-love.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

AI FILE

JOIN GLORIA WARD FOR THIS FREE MASTERCLASS

Gloria Ward helps you strategize, innovate, grow and profit in your business. Haven’t started a business yet? No worries. Come learn how you can get your business up and running in a little as 2 hours.

Enter your email address to watch the video free

AI FILE

How to talk to your kids about Divorce
Download the E-BOOK

AI FILE

It's Not All his Fault!
Download the E-BOOK