How to address the mental health crisis among young Black men
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APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, urged policymakers and others, particularly those working directly with Black youth, to address inequities in mental health by focusing on prevention efforts. He also highlighted the progress he sees in young people being more vocal than previous generations about their own mental health struggles in a Tuesday roundtable discussion with White House Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA.
“When I became a psychologist 30 years ago, we didn’t hear young people in general, and certainly not young Black men, talking about mental health issues so openly,” Evans said.
The discussion focused on the disparities in mental health treatment sought by Black and White Americans, and the increasing rates of mental health issues and suicide among young Black men in particular.
The suicide rate among Black people between 2018 and 2021 increased by 19.2%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The quickest rise happened among those ages 10 to 24 with the suicide rate among Black youth rising by 36.6%.
[Related: Talking to teens: Tools to help prevent youth suicide]
The country’s increased focus on giving mental health the same importance as physical health has also led to a greater understanding that increasing the number of mental health professionals alone won’t solve the problem, Evans said. Instead, the field of psychology must focus on working broadly on prevention efforts.
“We can try to treat all of the kids once they develop problems, or we can create psychologically healthy school environments where kids are less likely to develop problems, or if they do develop, they are identified much earlier and sent for care faster,” Evans said. “These kinds of upstream strategies help ensure that the workforce isn’t limited to people with a license and degree, but instead, teachers and managers are working to create psychologically healthy environments. That’s how we have a better shot at reducing demand for our services.”
[Related: Kids’ mental health is in crisis. Here’s what psychologists are doing to help]
Because many suicidal acts are impulsive, suicide prevention hotlines can play a crucial role in de-escalating crises and saving lives. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is a key resource for people who are suicidal or experiencing other mental health crises.
See the full roundtable discussion for additional details.
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