Recently, mental health issues have erupted in the mainstream media with more African American men embracing their skeletons and disclosing the problems they face behind closed doors. High profile black men including Kid Cudi, DMX, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Demar DeRozan and Wayne Brady have openly expressed their battles with depression in the past, paving the way for black men holding a lower socioeconomic status to spearhead their mental health issues openly.

In a modern, emasculated society, men have become afraid to express our emotions, deepest darkest fears, regrets, and mental hardships. Naturally, we respond to these negative emotions by suppressing and denying them. For black men enduring impoverished circumstances, it is increasingly difficult to change their circumstances while suppressing the emotions that hurt us the most. This results in a never-ending cycle of underachievement, poverty, and probable institutionalization.

The primary risk factors associated with the deterioration of the black man’s mental health include racism and social injustice, lack of employment opportunities, relationship and family life, and health and wellness. Obtaining wealth in all of these pillars will create a strong man while the obstacles on the journey to mastering these pillars often lead to a man’s mental demise.

Racism and Social Injustice

Racism, rather pervasive in nature, can take a plethora of different forms in America, some vivid while others are more difficult to measure. Since the shooting death of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin, and the strangulation of Eric Garner, the African American community has become distrusting of the police and the oppressive criminal justice system.

I am a black man born and raised on the southside of Chicago, Illinois. I have a keen understanding of what it is like to feel the wrath of racial prejudice and discrimination. Everyday racism in America consists of breaking down the characteristics that make you strong and reprogramming the minds of the masses to believe they are weak traits.

From the kink of our hair to our attitude and the melanin in our skin – racism in America marks us as inferior, and the subject of ridicule, humiliation and even death. In high school, I developed a significant disdain for the police. I was harassed a fair share of times and even held at gunpoint without legitimate reasoning. Our parents and women fear for our life because they fear that no amount of assimilation will provide protection and justice for racism. Unfortunately, this is a primary risk factor in the mental health deficiencies of the black man.

The prejudice and discrimination black men face on a daily basis strictly inhibits their ability to gain social, personal, educational, and material capital. Without capital, it is nearly impossible for the black man to live a quality life.

Employment Opportunities

The black population in the United States suffers the greatest likelihood of employment. Adversely, the millennial generation of black people experiences this low likelihood of unemployment at substantially higher rates, which has negative effects on mental health. The link between job security and mental health conditions is ever-present, and such link results in depression and anxiety, both of which are evident in black males.

A recent APA report found that black men applying for low-wage jobs are less likely to be called for an interview, less likely to receive employment, and less likely to be considered for a customer service job.  The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported Black males are disproportionately unemployed when compared to males of different ethnic backgrounds.

The effects of unemployment and job insecurity include an increased risk of the following mental health conditions: depression, suicide, long-term illness, alcohol, and drug abuse, and increased mortality rates. In the worst-case scenario, unemployment and economic insecurity are directly linked to decreased self-esteem and suicide.

Also, this will leave some black men to resort to illegal money for feelings of disdain and disbelief in corporate America. One in nine black children has had a parent incarcerated and nearly 7.7 percent of black men are institutionalized. Some researchers have reason to believe this is largely attributed to discrimination in the job market endorsing racial inequality.

Employment opportunities and job security are vital for the morale and mental health of the black man who is obscenely judged not by the content of his character, but the wealth, or lack thereof, of material possessions and money. Without the important pillar of employment opportunities and resources, the black man is incapable of providing for his family and maintaining self-sufficiency.

Relationships and Family

For some black men, their mental health deficiencies stem from becoming a product of their environment – whether that’s a broken home or heavy involvement in a delinquent community. Often times, us men deal with emotional trauma from our past – whether it’s a toxic mother, absent father, or the burden of betrayal – the vast majority of us carry that emotional luggage with us throughout our lives, adversely affecting our present and future relationships.

Emotional presence is the central theme of relationships and family. As men, we look for a woman that makes sure we are grounded, mentally sane, and supported while they simultaneously nurture our children. Women, for many of us, serve as our emotional anchors, but they are also first-aid kits for our emotional trauma.

Subtly, men suffering from emotional turmoil look for a woman or partner to fill the void they lost some time in their life. For men without a father in their life, legendary comedian Steve Harvey analogized this as “having a hole in their heart in the shape of their daddy.” For whatever the void, the hole in a man’s heart is often that emotional trauma he suffered, and he, oftentimes to the detriment of the relationship, looks for his woman to fill that void.

Placing undue pressures on your partner and family can lead to disputes, and frequent disputes lead to dismissal of forbearance. Without forbearance, the relationship will begin to suffer, and the emotional turmoil associated with the broken relationships will lead to the rupture of a man’s manhood and masculinity.

Throughout my early adolescence, I was holding onto rage from my father’s absence in my life around the age of 13. It took father time 10-years to sit me down and reflect on the rage I was exhibiting internally. Internally, we refuse to acknowledge what is hurting us the most whether its molestation, an absent father, mother, abandonment, or physical abuse, owning the very thing that caused emotional trauma can decrease the risk of mental health conditions and promote peace in one’s life peace. 

Health and Wellness

Lack of awareness, health education, and unhealthy lifestyles have led to adverse health conditions in black men including cancer, depression, heart disease, and respiratory infections. Black men are responsible for 100,000 more cardiovascular fatalities than other ethnic groups. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) face higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women.

The aforementioned environmental and socioeconomic risk factors play a significant role in binge drinking, as African Americans are more likely to live in poverty, sustain less education, and suffer higher rates of employment than other ethnic groups. Young black men who are economically disadvantaged suffer from the most problems with alcohol and drinking.

Substance and drug abuse is almost always a primary indicator of mental health complications. Men smoke marijuana or indulge in alcoholic beverages to inoculate their mental turmoil or remain level-headed.

Mental Health Synopsis …

Growing up as a black man in America, I understand it is no easy task as we combat principalities who want us to amount to nothing on a daily basis. Growing up roaming the streets of southside Chicago until I went away to college, I observed a hand full of impoverished men who, against better judgment, could not find a way out of their mental abyss and resorted to delinquency.

Overall, the historical adversity faced by the African-American community, including slavery and race-based exclusionary policies limited access to health, education, social and economic resources, is directly linked to the socioeconomic inequalities blacks face today. Our socioeconomic status is directly linked to our mental health.

Blacks who are impoverished, homeless, incarcerated or institutionalized, or suffer from substance abuse problems are at a greater risk of suffering from mental health deficiencies.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

108 COMMENTS

  1. Hi there it’s me, I am also visiting this web page regularly, this web page is truly fastidious and the people are really sharing fastidious thoughts.

  2. fantastic put up, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite
    specialists of this sector don’t realize this. You should
    proceed your writing. I am confident, you have a huge
    readers’ base already!

  3. This design is steller! You most certainly know how to keep a reader amused.

    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my
    own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really loved what you had
    to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

  4. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I
    could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
    I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have
    some experience with something like this. Please let me know if
    you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

  5. continuously i used to read smaller articles which also
    clear their motive, and that is also happening with this post which I am reading at this time.

  7. Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot.

    I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.

  8. Attractive part of content. I simply stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to claim that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
    Any way I will be subscribing for your augment and even I success you get entry to persistently rapidly.

  11. I’m extremely inspired along with your writing talents and also with the structure on your weblog.
    Is this a paid subject matter or did you modify it your
    self? Either way keep up the excellent high quality writing,
    it is uncommon to see a nice blog like this one nowadays..

  12. Its like you read my thoughts! You seem
    to grasp so much about this, such as you wrote
    the e book in it or something. I think that you just can do with some % to pressure the message house a bit, however
    instead of that, this is wonderful blog. A great read.
    I’ll certainly be back.

  14. I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
    The sketch is tasteful, your authored material
    stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following.
    unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.

  15. Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the pictures on this blog loading?
    I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

  16. I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks , I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your website?

  18. Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be told was a enjoyment account it. Glance complicated to more introduced agreeable from you! However, how could we be in contact?

  20. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly
    informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if
    you continue this in future. Numerous people will
    be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  28. Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed!
    Very helpful info specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such info much.

    I was looking for this certain information for a long time.
    Thank you and good luck.

  30. Hi, I do believe this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to revisit yet again since i have book marked
    it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to
    help others.

  31. Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve take into accout your stuff previous to and you are
    just too great. I really like what you’ve got here,
    really like what you’re saying and the way by which you
    say it. You’re making it entertaining and you continue
    to take care of to stay it wise. I cant wait to read much more from you.
    That is actually a great website.

  34. Does your website have a contact page? I’m having
    problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email.
    I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
    Either way, great site and I look forward to
    seeing it improve over time.

  37. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the
    page layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got
    to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so
    people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only
    having 1 or two pictures. Maybe you could
    space it out better?

  39. Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you
    wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit,
    but instead of that, this is wonderful blog. A great read.

    I’ll certainly be back.

  40. Whoa! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a entirely
    different subject but it has pretty much the same layout
    and design. Excellent choice of colors!

  41. I believe what you typed made a great deal of sense. But, what
    about this? suppose you wrote a catchier title? I mean, I don’t wish to
    tell you how to run your website, however what if you added a headline to
    maybe get people’s attention? I mean Are Black Men Dying on the Inside?: Mental Health Focus — Fourté Media is a little boring.
    You might peek at Yahoo’s home page and watch how they
    create news headlines to get people to click.
    You might add a related video or a related pic or two to get readers excited about what you’ve written.
    In my opinion, it might bring your posts a little livelier.

  43. of course like your web-site but you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very bothersome to tell the reality however I’ll surely come again again.

  47. Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude!
    Thanks, However I am encountering difficulties with your RSS.

    I don’t understand the reason why I am unable to subscribe to
    it. Is there anyone else getting similar RSS problems?
    Anyone who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx!!

  52. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter
    updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something
    like this. Please let me know if you run into anything.
    I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new
    updates. asmr 0mniartist

  53. Have you ever thought about writing an e-book
    or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based upon on the same information you discuss and would
    really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my
    audience would value your work. If you’re even remotely interested,
    feel free to send me an e-mail. 0mniartist asmr

  55. Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon everyday. It will always be helpful to read through articles from other authors and practice something from other sites. Celine Jock Michaeline

  57. Hi. Can you tell me, is there any way to move the middle bracket up some and put the top bracket a little higher. So to give them a little more room? Cassandra Bucky Stichter

  62. I am really loving the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility issues? A couple of my blog readers have complained about my site not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this issue? Cathie Ulysses Cavuoto

  63. Hey there, You have done a great job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this web site. Minna Terry Cal

  66. After I initially left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the exact same comment. There has to be a way you are able to remove me from that service? Cheers! Nissy Trevar Cassandry

  68. To link your Facebook and Twitter accounts, open the Instagram app on your phone or tablet, and select the Profile tab in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Georgine Hunter Farkas

  69. Reward yourself with these rings without being guilty. A piece that you can bring anywhere. Get an extra 10 discount, use code FIRST10OFF on the checkout page. Inez Foss Garber

  72. You have made some good points there. I looked on the internet for more information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site. Ines Pedro Wiles

  74. Hello there, I found your web site via Google while looking for a related topic, your site came up, it looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks. Marinna Farly Calvin

  75. That is a really good tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere. Brief but very precise info?Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read post! Maxi Leonhard Kronick

  77. Everything is very open with a really clear description of the issues. It was truly informative. Your site is extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing! Christiana Aldon Lenette

  78. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate? Sibylla Wendel Frankel

  84. whoah this weblog is great i like studying your articles. Stay up the good work! You realize, lots of individuals are hunting around for this information, you can help them greatly. Tatum Benoit Yuji

  86. I?d have to contact you here. Which is not something I normally do! I delight in reviewing an article that will certainly make individuals believe. Also, many thanks for enabling me to comment! Berti Yanaton Dari

  88. Thanks so much for providing individuals with a very wonderful opportunity to read critical reviews from this blog. It is always so brilliant and full of a great time for me personally and my office colleagues to visit your website particularly 3 times a week to study the fresh issues you have. And indeed, I am just always impressed with the impressive concepts served by you. Selected 3 points on this page are indeed the simplest I have had. Kore Robinet Sorel

  89. Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me. Jacquetta Rich Chantal

  91. Pretty part of content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to say that I get in fact enjoyed account your weblog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I success you get entry to persistently fast. Genevieve Renault Dragon

  103. Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day. It will always be useful to read through content from other writers and use something from their web sites. Jenelle Daren Mert

  105. Its not my first time to visit this website, i am visiting this web site dailly and take good information from here daily. Merridie Barris Hultgren

  106. This article is in fact a pleasant one it assists new web people, who are wishing in favor of blogging. Jacquelynn Kareem Ardyth Sonnnie Bastien Gadmann

  108. I know this website offers quality depending posts and other material, is there any other website which provides these kinds of data in quality?| Jobyna Ellsworth Xena

Comments are closed.