Mental Health for Men of Color: Our Collective Responsibility

Dr. Jessica LoPresti, Ph.D.

Co-founder & Chief Medical Officer

I have been thinking about those who have been left behind in the mental health and wellness conversation, and the first group of people who come to mind are men of color. We have experienced an unprecedented rise in suicide, mood disorders, and chronic stress in men of color in the United States. Our attention to this crisis is long overdue. A few thoughts on shifting the narrative:

Open Conversations

Forums, blogs, colleges and universities, community centers, churches, mosques, barbershops, peer support groups—we need more open conversations about mental health and wellness among men of color that normalize and validate experiences of depression, chronic stress, trauma, and yes, thoughts of suicide. The one common factor among those who have completed suicide is that they were alone and lonely in the days, months, or even years leading up to their suicide. We must make space for community around mental health challenges for men of color. These types of open conversations lead to connection, understanding, and self-compassion, which are the cornerstones of wellness.

Cultural Responsiveness

As a field, mental health must do better. Understanding cultural nuance, systemic and institutional oppression, and the lived experiences of men of color is crucial for providing quality and effective mental health care. We must attend to the great strengths that men of color bring to our world and honor those strengths in the therapy room. We need more funding that focuses on research centered on the experiences of mental health challenges in men of color to inform our prevention and intervention efforts.

Prioritizing Humanity

We continue to battle a long history and present context that dehumanizes men of color. We must begin by prioritizing the humanity of men of color—honoring their contributions to our society, communities, businesses, and families. We must humanize the very real consequences of racial oppression, economic instability, over-policing, and cultural expectations about masculinity. The pressure to appear strong or to “man up” leaves no room for the vulnerability and self-compassion needed for healing. Strength is not defined by stoicism or silence. Strength is built by the space for vulnerability, care, compassion, and healing. As a society, we must make this space.

Mental illness is not an individual issue that men of color face. It is our collective responsibility to create a society that prioritizes the humanity of our men of color, makes space for strength in connection, normalizes the experience of mental health challenges, and lights the path toward healing.

As always, the WhiteFlag community is here for you.

-Dr. Jess

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