Black Men and Mental Health
“Black men struggle with masculinity so much. The idea that we must always be strong really presses us all down – it keeps us from growing. ”
Statistically speaking, men take less care of their mental and physical health than women, often neglecting preventative care and allowing issues to reach a point of no return. According to a survey of men 18-70 done by the Cleveland Clinic, over 40% of men only go to the doctor when they think they have a serious medical condition. Men's mental health is especially neglected perhaps because of patriarchal messaging from society that tells us that men are meant to be stoic and strong, and that men do not have emotional inner lives that require nurturing and care. For Black men, the male tendency to neglect mental health is exacerbated by distrust of the medical establishment due to a long history of exploitation —such as the Tuskegee Experiment —and lack of access.
Additionally, within the Black community there is a stigma around mental health that can be traced back to slavery when "it was commonly thought enslaved people were not sophisticated enough to develop depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders." Over time, Black people learned to ignore and underestimate the significance of mental health concerns, ultimately strengthening "beliefs that a psychiatric disorder is a personal weakness." As a result, Black men have been both less likely to seek treatment and less likely to receive proper care and diagnosis.
Despite the continued disparities, there is a growing cultural shift in awareness of the importance of mental healthcare for Black men as well as increased emphasis on culturally competent and trauma-informed care that address the unique mental health concerns of Black men. Celebrities such as Jay Z and Michael B. Jordan have spoken publicly about their experiences with therapy, helping to break the stigma around seeking help. Platforms such as BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective), TherapyForBlackMen.Org, Melanin and Mental Health, and Black Men Heal are dedicated to providing access to quality mental health care for Black people.
