On May 1, 2024, APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month by testifying before Congress about the rising rates of suicide among Black men and youth and the importance of promoting mental health and wellness. The hearing was led by Representative Fredericka Wilson (D–Florida), founder and chair of the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys; Representative Steven Horsford (D–Nevada), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; and Representative Troy Carter (D–Louisiana). Evans participated on a panel that included the CEOs of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the American Public Health Association. The hearing also featured a former NFL player, a local R&B singer, and students from a Washington, DC, high school.
“Effectively addressing the mental health of Black men and boys requires innovative solutions that are grounded in an understanding of the many issues affecting men’s health, including social, biological and environmental factors, informed by scientific rigor and data, and driven by the community and the men and boys whose health we are trying to improve,” said Evans. “It is critical that we use a comprehensive population health approach that addresses systemic and structural issues as well as social drivers of health. Most important, we need the political will to move this agenda.”
Evans also stressed that while more people are talking about therapy, there’s still some stigma about seeking help. “When it comes to our mental health…we want to be protective, we want to be secretive and if we really want to address these issues, we have to normalize it and talk about it.”
The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dataopens in new window show suicide rates among Black children, teens, and young adults (10-24 years old) increased by 36% between 2018-21. Data also suggests that Black men and boys are more likely to experience serious mental health problems, with symptoms that are more persistent, disabling, and treatment resistant. Often, they do not seek or receive behavioral health support. If they do get help, it’s often not delivered in a culturally competent way or tailored to their needs.
APA Services advocates for several initiatives that would improve health outcomes for Black men and boys including:
- fully funding the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;
- passing the Youth Mental Health Research Act (H.R. 5976/S.3060), which would fund and develop research to improve prevention, treatment, and crisis care for children and youth, with a particular focus on youth in underserved communities;
- passing firearm safety legislation;
- supporting programs to diversify the mental health workforce and improve access to culturally competent care, such as the Minority Fellowship Program;
- increasing the number of mental health community training programs;
- increasing the number of mobile crisis outreach and programs.
For more information, contact Krysta Jones and Stefanie Reeves.