As Minority Mental Health Awareness Month brings attention to mental health challenges faced by minorities, a free therapy program for Black men is fighting to keep its doors open. Therapy for Black Men, a national initiative based on the East Coast, has provided over $100,000 worth of free therapy sessions to Black men and boys across the country. However, the program has been forced to halt future sessions due to lack of funds, leaving approximately 5,000 people on a waiting list.
Co-founder Benjamin Calixte (above) emphasizes the program’s importance: “It’s not a cure-all, it’s not a silver bullet. But it’s something that gets them on a pathway to have a consistency, a continuity of care, to where they can get into a rhythm of seeing why therapy is so important.”
The program addresses significant disparities in mental health care access. According to Mental Health America, 6.1 million African Americans have a mental health condition. High therapy costs often create barriers for many, particularly in minority communities.
To combat these issues, mental health advocate Lisa Sugarman initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support Therapy for Black Men. “It’s life-saving work and it benefits all of us,” Sugarman stated.
Janis Middleton, chief inclusion officer at 22Squared, highlights the broader impact: “When you look at the internet today… you see there’s a lot of healing that needs to be had.”
As the program faces closure, its supporters stress the critical importance of overcoming stigma and educating Black men on the benefits of therapy, aiming to address long-standing mental health disparities in the community.
See “Free Therapy Program for Black Men Faces Closure” (July 26, 2024)
