From left: U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, chair of the Caucus on the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys; U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a member of the same caucus; and U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, talk with mental health experts during a Capitol Hill briefing on the rising suicide rates among Black boys and young Black men.
The statistics are alarming.
Only one in three Black adults with a mental health condition receive treatment. Sixty percent of Black adolescents who had a major depressive episode in the last year did not get mental health treatment—a far higher rate than white children.
Twelve percent of Black adolescents had thoughts of suicide; 7.5% made a suicide plan, and nearly 5% attempted suicide. Rates of suicide deaths among Black men have increased by 25% over the last two decades.
These figures were revealed at a recent Capitol Hill briefing titled, “Mayday: Suicide and the Mental Health of Black Men and Boys.”
“Historically, suicide has not been viewed as a problem specific to the Black community, so Black men are still suffering in silence and Black boys are dying,” said U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., chair of the Caucus on the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, who hosted the congressional briefing.
NASW CEO Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, was among the expert panelists invited to testify before lawmakers.
“This is something that impacts me and my family... This is a priority for social work,” Estreet said. “We are one of the largest providers of behavioral services in the United States. We stand poised ready to address the needs and treatment and prevention of Black men and boys in the United States... We are all ready to work on this and create solutions across the country.”
Estreet submitted written testimony that stated the mental health of Black men is a multifaceted and complex issue that extends beyond mere statistics and clinical diagnoses. “Experts in the field have identified several factors that are intimately tied to their mental health and treatment, including structural racism, implicit bias from medical providers, high poverty rates, and limited access to quality mental health services,” the testimony said.
Many Black males are exposed to trauma daily, both as witnesses and victims.
“However, they are significantly less likely than other ethnic groups to seek mental health services due to individual barriers such as lack of knowledge on how to access services and service eligibility issues, as well as high levels of daily crises,” he said in his written testimony. “Conversely, social support, occupational disability, and severity of PTSD symptoms are significant facilitators for mental health service use. It is crucial to recognize and address these challenges to ensure that Black men receive the mental health care that they need and deserve.”
Social workers play a vital role in addressing the mental health crisis in our society, Estreet pointed out. To ensure their effective contribution, we must establish robust agreements among states and pay these professionals equitably.
Estreet said research on mental illness among African Americans has been increasing, but few studies have looked at differences in beliefs, attitudes, and coping strategies based on age and gender.
“Ignoring these differences can ignore the diversity within groups and have important implications for understanding things like how common mental illness is, what kind of treatments people seek, and if there is a need for treatments that are specific to gender or age,” his testimony said. “Finding culturally relevant ways to support the mental health of Black men, including addressing racial trauma and its effects, can benefit society as a whole.”
“We must use our expertise to influence holistic policy decisions but more importantly, we must center the experience of the most impacted, those who are marginalized, and those who have lost faith in our ability to build a system that sees them fully,” Estreet stated.
U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said the caucus is not only working to improve access to mental wellness and health, but also to improve “the economic condition of the Black community in every respect. When we improve the economic conditions of Black Americans, we actually improve their health outcomes and save Black lives.”
The briefing brought together other esteemed panelists, including additional CEOs of the leading mental health organizations in the country: Shawn Boynes, CEO of the American Counseling Association; Dr. Arthur Evans, CEO for the American Psychological Association; Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of American Public Health Association; and Daniel Gillison Jr., CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The panelists also included influential celebrities Marcus Smith, former NFL Philadelphia Eagles linebacker; and Raheem Devaughn, Grammy-nominated recording artist.