Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Post-pandemic, there has been an influx of diagnoses for depression, anxiety, and several other mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. Increased mental health concerns have also led to an increase in the number of teens and adults seeking mental health resources and treatment. More Americans are seeking therapy and taking medication for their mental health.
Additionally, conversations and reports centering on the mental health crisis are increasing, with organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration leading the charge, and efforts to ameliorate the mental health crisis. We are doing Raise health awareness and try to find solutions to the crisis.
But this isn’t true for all Americans or all organizations, and these conversations aren’t happening everywhere, especially within marginalized communities, especially Black male communities.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that suicide is one of the leading causes of death for Black men ages 15-24, and that in 2018 suicide rates among Black men exceeded those of Black women and other racial minority groups. I reported that it was higher than that. They are generally more likely to have mental health-related problems or experience persistent mental health symptoms compared to their white peers.
Black men are less likely to be featured in mental health research, less likely to receive quality mental health care, and turn to primary care or emergency rooms instead of seeking qualified mental health professionals. .
Overall, Black Americans are more likely to experience health care-related inequities, including mental health. In addition to the racial disparities that exist within America’s health care system, there are a number of reasons that experts and Black men themselves attribute to these alarming statistics.
Much of this begins with Black Americans having some of the highest levels of distrust of health care workers from other racial and ethnic groups. This lack of trust in medical professionals and various medical services can be traced back to the history of black men being used in dangerous medical experiments such as the 1932 Tuskegee Syphilis Study.
With black women having the highest maternal mortality rates and black Americans being “systematically undertreated for pain,” the black community still has reason to enter the medical field with mistrust.
There is also a stigma centered around Black men seeking mental health services within the Black community. According to a survey conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Health, over 60% of Black Americans view mental illness as a weakness.
Dr. Ruth White, a former social worker and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Carbon Five, said Black Americans have endured so much adversity that many are suffering from further mental health conditions. I believe they see it as a means of oppression. People of different races are often marginalized in society.
The financial burden caused by the high cost of mental health treatment and lack of insurance further exacerbates the stigma and potential judgment. Many in the black community believe that spending money on mental health services is not as important as other things, especially since they tend to invite negative attitudes from family and friends.
Additionally, societal stereotypes about Black men make many Black men feel like therapy and mental health resources are not for them. This situation is further exacerbated by the lack of similar mental health professionals. In society, black men are often portrayed as hypermasculine figures who are not allowed to express their emotions as freely as women or white men.
Cindy Chan | Digital Design Director
Izzy See, a freshman at the Newhouse School of Public Communication, said, “There’s a certain strength in being the underdog, but black men are always expected to be ‘the guys.’ “Many people don’t want to be seen as weak.”
“There are stereotypes of black men being strong or providers, and many black men feel like they have to conform to or fit into those stereotypes. Being a black man is difficult and comfortable. It’s even harder to find a space where you can spend time,” said Josh Crawford, a graduate student at Newhouse.
In the mental health profession, 66% of professionals are white and more than 75% of professionals are women. Just under 20% of our employees are black.
Crawford touched on his own experience with mental health services at SU, saying, “I come from an HBCU and came to SU with a certain amount of mistrust. I wish there were more people on campus, including mental health professionals. We need Black men. Black men need someone we can feel comfortable going to.”
Improving mental health care for Black men begins by considering the relationship between race and mental health and the various barriers that prevent Black men from accessing the mental health resources they deserve. A person’s mental health and mental health needs should be given the same attention as their physical health.
Combating these barriers takes time. There is still a long way to go in terms of mistrust and lack of representation in the American healthcare industry, as well as cultural bias and societal expectations placed on Black men. Breaking down these barriers will require a collective effort by mental health professionals, health policy makers, and society at large to work with and listen to Black men about their mental health concerns and needs. is. We need more Black men to be present in the mental health space, not just as therapists, but as part of the mental health conversation from the beginning.
Caitlin Page is a third-year student studying public relations. Her column appears every other week. Contact details are as follows: [email protected].
Published February 14, 2024 at 11:20 p.m.
