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Depression and suicide rates have been steadily rising among Black men in America, and mental health experts are waging a battle against the darkness many feel within.
Among the efforts aimed at fighting the problem is the Just Heal, Bro national tour, which arrives in Detroit on Saturday. The free, male-only event promotes mental health among Black men.
The speaker lineup will include actor and health advocate Lamman Rucker; Dr. Jay Barnett, a former Green Bay Packer and suicide attempt survivor-turned-licensed therapist; author and coach Dr. Joel Tudman; Detroit’s own Jason Wilson, founder and CEO of the Cave of Adullam; and relational intelligence expert Lawrence Adjah. Local Black therapists will also be available at resource tables.
Just Heal, Bro is a global initiative designed to help Black men find strength in vulnerability and mental and emotional healing through education and community, develop emotional intelligence and tools for resiliency, cultivate brotherhood and community among one another and foster healing journeys.
“This is the first time it’s going to be held in Detroit,” said Adjah, “but this has actually been going on for about 18 months. It came by inspiration of a book called ‘Just Heal, Bro’ by Dr. Jay Barnett, but was really stewarded (by) Hope Allen and Living Hope Productions. They said: ‘Beyond this book, what would it look like to have a space where brothers can relate to (one another) but get practical information? Not only on how to live healthy lives holistically, but practical information about what resources are available locally?'”
Tudman said Black men should know there’s nothing wrong with seeking counseling.
“It’s OK,” he said, “to try to demystify what’s been said about our race when it pertains to counseling. You have a right to choose a relationship with yourself. Counseling is one of those ways that get you the opportunity to unmask a lot of things that have happened to you (because of) traumatic issues, crises. You deserve peace. You deserve harmony. And you need therapy sometimes to do that. And it’s OK to talk to other men — that’s great — but it’s really good when you can talk to someone that’s been trained to help you on earth.”
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Suicide is currently 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. Sixteen percent (4.8 million) of Black and African people report having a mental illness, and 22.4% of those (1.1 million) reported a serious mental illness over the last year. Suicides among Black men have doubled in the past two years, and 95% of people of color end therapy prematurely, usually after the first session, because of the cultural divide with the therapist.
Adjah encouraged men to dismiss the concept of the “dutiful, hardworking” man who doesn’t have time or energy to address his own mental wellness.
“I think sometimes,” he said, “you think you don’t have the luxury or the privilege of being able to think about your mind. You think about your body, you think about your relationships, and even that I don’t think we do a good job at. But your mind is one of those (key) things. There’s nothing worse than an enemy you don’t know, don’t see. I think this is an issue that every brother will relate to, but they never had a name for it or knew that it was an issue. That’s partly why they need to come to this room and be a part of this experience, together.”
Tudman advised that healing is not only found in church, as some might believe.
“Healing is a word that’s kind of equated with ministry, but there’s other places you can heal; there’s an opportunity for you to heal in the open,” he said. “We are vulnerable with the crowd about our own experiences, our own journeys, and we tried to do that on purpose so that men feel OK to be transparent, though the healing process takes time. Sometimes it hurts your pride to say what’s happening to you. Sometimes you feel shameful to say what’s happening. But when you see other people that are giving voice to pain, you start seeing this is powerful.
“I love in our sessions (that) you see men from 65 down to 18 shedding tears as they find out: ‘Somebody else is going through what I’m going through, and this is actually normal. There’s nothing wrong with me. So I’m in a space where I can share my pain and get some keys and come out at least learning how to start my healing process.'”
The Just Heal, Bro event in Detroit will take place Saturday at Wayne State University’s Community Arts Center Auditorium, 450 Reuther Mall. At 1 p.m., a preceding Joy Joint will feature free haircuts and grooming, wellness resources, giveaways, food and more. The interactive panel discussion will begin at 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.justheal.co.
Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.
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