A mental health crisis is severely impacting Black men and boys in the United States, leading to rising suicide rates and inadequate care, according to experts at a recent Harvard University symposium.
The Hutchins Center for African & African American Research convened the daylong event on May 13 to address the complex factors contributing to the crisis and explore potential solutions. Speakers highlighted that Black men are four times more likely to
die by suicide than Black women, and suicide rates among Black boys have risen 60 percent over the past two decades.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu emphasized that stigma and systemic racism pose additional challenges for Black men and boys, affecting the quality of mental health care they receive. Michael Rain, a joint fellow at Harvard’s Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics and the Hutchins Center, noted that these issues are often compounded, leading to a lack of targeted solutions.
Psychologist Martin Pierre called for a more culturally responsive approach to mental health in the Black community, stressing the importance of allowing Black men to identify and express their emotions while building supportive relationships.
Henry Louis Gates Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the Hutchins Center, described the current situation as “gruesome” and emphasized the symposium’s vital role in giving voice to these crucial issues.
The event underscored the urgent need for targeted interventions, increased access to culturally competent care, and efforts to combat the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community.
See “What to do about mental health crisis among Black males” (May 24, 2024)
