A recent study from the University of Georgia reported increased suicide rates among Black male adolescents and young adults. According to the study, one in three rural Black men report experiencing suicidal ideation or thoughts of death.
“We need to destigmatize mental health, which can be especially difficult in Black communities,” said UGA research director and human development professor specializing in African American community studies. said Stephen Cogan. We need to recognize that there are sociocultural forces that influence black men. Black men are less likely to feel allowed to have depression and mental health issues.
The CDC found that suicide is the second leading cause of death for Black people ages 15 to 24, and Black men die by suicide at four times the rate of Black women. The UGA study, conducted by Kogan, Ava J. Beck, Michael G. Curtis, Assaf Osiri and others, examines the mental health of black men and how UGA can help combat the issue. It sparked a campus-wide discussion about whether it was helpful.
The study asserts that many factors, including racism, play an important role in how black men view themselves. Michael Howard, social justice chair of the UGA Council on Black Affairs, believes there is still a stigma in discussions about black men and their mental health. He points out that social roles and toxic masculinity play a huge role in the mental health of young black men.
“There's definitely still some prejudice because we black men are supposed to be tough and strong…and there are some people in society who are afraid of us and who we are,” Howard said. .
Another factor contributing to poor mental health among Black men is childhood trauma and adversity. Langston Richards, a senior sports management student, believes positive conversations about childhood mental health are essential to remediating this issue. He points out that negative attention toward black men in the media can cause a negative self-image in young black men.
“Seeing things like that can instill a sense of hopelessness in young black men who are striving for success, and it can lead to depression,” Richards said.
Both men agreed that loneliness and isolation are the main causes of depression among black men. The case study states that childhood experiences of trauma and racism can lead to a lack of trust among young black men, which can impact friendships and relationships by ultimately leading to isolation.
“We are taught to protect [emotions] So,” Howard said. “If you cry at a young age…you'll be told, 'Stop crying, men don't do that'…and it creates loneliness because you can't talk to anyone about how you're feeling.”
They both agreed that more resources are needed on campus to combat these feelings of despair. Howard said that while there are plenty of resources on campus, few are geared towards men, especially Black men.
“There are very few professionals like me in this field.” [health] Center,” Howard said. “Also, there aren't a lot of Black men involved in therapy and things like that. I mean, there are resources out there, but we either don't know about them or they're not really a good fit for us.”
According to a study conducted by Harvard Medical School, only about 25% of black Americans receive treatment, compared to 40% of whites. Promoting therapy for black men could increase participation and close the gap.
Richards said she is an advocate of therapy, something she learned from her father. Richards' father encouraged Richards and his sister to seek help for their mental health, as he believes mental health is important to a healthy life.
“I feel like there’s always more we can do,” Richards said. “You don't see a lot of publicity about things like that. You see publicity about mental health, but you don't see much publicity about mental health, especially for black men. We can do more.”
Both men wanted to inspire other Black men on campus who may be struggling mentally by sharing some words of encouragement.
“Please, help me. I know it's hard to admit to yourself that you might not be as strong as you think you are, that you're not okay, but a real man expresses who he is. , you can express your emotions,'' Howard said. “It's better to struggle together than to struggle alone.”
Mr. Richards emphasized the importance of recognizing that something is wrong to begin the journey of recovery, something he discovered through his own experience.
For more information about UGA campus mental health resources, visit https://healthcenter.uga.edu/bewelluga/counseling/.
