2020 has brought in a lot of anxiety and depression to young black men, not only because of the coronavirus that has killed 229,550 Americans( the number is constantly increasing) but because of the acts of violence that African Americans are facing.  

 According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, despite the needs, only one in three Black or African American adults who need mental health care receives it. 

And 

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Mental Health Facts for African Americans guide, African Americans are: Less likely to receive guideline-consistent care, less frequently included in research, and more likely to use emergency rooms or primary care (rather than mental health specialists). 

Often young men are scared to ask for help, and I want to let any young black men out there know that it’s okay to ask for help, and you’re not alone.  

According to Celebrity Therapist and Licensed mental health counselor Jeff Rocker, in an interview with Black Enterprise, some of the things that keep black men from seeking out help is because they are in fear of being judged, being misdiagnosed, hostile generalizations of therapy, false reparations, and having trouble finding therapists who are knowledgeable about Black culture. 

“The conventional masculinity beliefs that force men to endure challenges, as well as the fear of their families identifying them as crazy due to their mental health diagnoses elevates their resistance to psychological assistance,” said Rocker. 

 Young men can receive help from a mental health professional or if they’re not ready, they can always find ways to cope. 

1) If young men want to receive help from a therapist, I recommend receiving help from a Black therapist. Black therapists are usually the ones that understand what people of color go through it. 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “The relationship and communication between a person and their mental health provider is a key aspect of treatment. It’s very important for a person to feel that their identity is understood by their provider in order to receive the best possible support and care.”

2) Ways to cope is doing some self-care routines. How a person feels physically can help with how they feel mentally. I recommend… 

• Getting plenty of sleep like at least seven to eight hours every day
• Eating healthy foods
• Exercising a few times a week, whether it’s going out for a walk, or going out for a jog, or going to the gym

Mentally, I recommend… 

• Talking to someone you trust and feeling comfortable with speaking about your feelings. 
• Talking with other black men, whether they are friends, fathers, siblings, people in group therapy, or other supportive spaces. 
• Journaling or writing your thoughts out. Writing your thoughts down can help you process and understand your feelings. 
• Doing things that make you feel relaxed or happy. Whether it’s listening to music, watching movies and TV, or playing a video game.