CLEVELAND, Ohio — Black men experience a disproportionate number of mental health crises, and yet a shortage of black therapists frequently discourages men of color from getting the help they need.
To address these issues, a national tour designed to bring awareness to the mental health needs of the Black community is coming to Cleveland next month.
The free event for men will be at the Tri-C Eastern Campus in Highland Hills and will feature a panel of experts specializing in various aspects of the Black mental health experience.
The panel will discuss the rising rates of depression and suicide among Black men, and the grim picture painted by current statistics. For example,
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death in Black adolescents ages 15-19 and the second leading cause of death in Black youth ages 10-14
- African American adults are 20% more likely to experience mental health issues than the rest of the population.
- 16% (4.8 million) of Black people reported having a mental illness, and 22.4% of those (1.1 million people) reported a serious mental illness over the past year.
- Suicides amongst Black men have doubled in the past two years
- 95% of people of color will end therapy prematurely, usually after the first session, because of the cultural divide with the therapist.
The national tour, titled ‘Just Heal, Bro,’ is in its third year.
It will travel to 25 cities and will include stops in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus. The local events are sponsored by Humana, MetroHealth, Aids Healthcare Foundation, and Cuyahoga Community College and are produced by Ohio native and executive producer Hope Allen and her company Living Hope Productions.
“It brings me so much joy to bring this tour back to my home state,” said Allen. “Mental health is a pervasive issue in many communities but most African-American men haven’t been given the language and tools to navigate social, economic and personal factors that are driving an uptick in depression and suicide.
“This tour is an opportunity for men to find strength in vulnerability, to develop emotional intelligence and tools that will foster healing journeys while building brotherhood in the community.”
Local Black therapists and health resources will also be on site.
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 2, 7:30pm. A pre-event mixer with free haircuts, self-care resources and more starts at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Tri-C Eastern Campus, Simone and Rose Mandel Theater. 4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills.
REGISTRATION: Registration free for all men at justheal.com