ORANGE COUNTY — The family of a man found dead in Rose City hopes his suicide raises awareness about mental health issues and resources for black men.
31-year-old Evan Bryant is described by his Aunt Crystal King as quiet, gentle and family-oriented. It’s been almost two weeks since Bryant’s family learned he took his own life. King was one of the first to learn what happened.
“It was life-changing,” said King. “It was a life-changing moment.”
Bryant drove trucks for a living, but having a large family, it was common for him to have spoken to someone at some point. King says family reported him missing when they didn’t hear from him for days.
On August 30th, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office located Bryant’s body in the woods behind Gateway Travel Plaza in Rose City.
“I was literally sick to my stomach and in disbelief,” said King. “I think I’m still a little bit in disbelief.”
King believes a death in the family, the loss of her own father in February, led to Bryant pulling over at the truck stop, walking into the woods and taking his own life.
“Evan was was trying to figure out life without my father, a life that he never knew, and the grief was overwhelming,” said King. “The idea of living life without my father was just more than he could bear is what I think.”
Now, the family wants Evan’s story to be the change, a catalyst to a larger conversation about black men’s mental health, so his death may prevent someone else’s.
“The black men and suicide numbers are on the rise across this country,” said King. “Although they know they may be suffering, they are suffering in silence.”
Trina Rose Frazier, a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of the Rose Center, says King is right. Statistics show black men are less likely to report mental health issues. 39% of black Americans deal with mental health issues. Only 21% get help, and the percentage of men within that 21% is in the single digits.
“When you compare our black men to their counterparts, so Hispanic males and non-Hispanic males and Caucasian males, again, they show up at the bottom of the list when it comes to how much they’re actually willing to report what they’re dealing with,” said Frazier. “You have a lot of people that are suppressing. A lot of our black men are suppressing their issues until they explode.”
Frazier says suicidal thoughts and feelings are a sign of vulnerability, something black men are largely uncomfortable with showing, in part because of the past.
“To be open with saying, ‘Hey, this is what is bothering me, this is basically an issue that I’m having’ can seem like they’re exposing their weaknesses and they’re not going to do that willingly because it’s been used against them so often,” said Frazier.
Frazier says suicidal ideations and mental health as a whole are seen as taboo topics, but talking about it is what will allow affected groups to handle it better.
“I want to encourage our black men to take time to get to know themselves, to take time to treat themselves how they want to be treated, and to understand that it is okay to not be okay, but you don’t have to stay that way,” said Frazier. “I want them to know that they’re worth healing.”
That healing begins with opening up to professionals like Frazier.
King says Bryant was the most creative person she knew — a singer, dancer, writer and more, loved by his family. She doesn’t want his life to be lost in Vain.
“Evan’s a father of an eight-year-old son and we do not want him to grow up unable to have conversations about how he feels on the inside on his good days and his bad days,” said King. “We are determined to help change this narrative in our community.”
Bryant’s family is starting an organization called ‘Phambili – The Dark Reality of Black Men and Mental Health.’ King says the purpose is to “help black men navigate this conversation around their mental health and well-being and provide resources and access to resources in order for people to have a healthy life.” The organization website can be accessed here, but will not be operational until the weekend.
Frazier’s is offering a self-love workshop Saturday, September 14 at The Rose Center from 12 PM to 3 PM. Frazier says relationship with self one of the most neglected relationships and can be the first step toward healing.