Bringing Mental Health Out of the Shadows for Black Youth and Families
A Conversation That Can No Longer Wait
There are moments when a community has to stop, look at itself, and confront a difficult truth. We are in one of those moments. Across the country, more Black children and teenagers are struggling with their mental health, and too many are suffering in silence. The number of young people who die from suicide is rising, but this is not about numbers. This is about young people who are hurting. This is about families searching for answers. This is about conversations that, for too long, we’ve avoided. We cannot afford to look away any longer.
What We Are Learning About Our Young People
Recent research is helping us better understand what many families have already been feeling and why we need to talk about it. According to SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, from 2018 to 2021, suicide rates among Black youth ages 10–24 years increased from 8.2% to 11.2% (PDF | 99 KB), a 36.6% increase. In 2021, for Black youth ages 10–24, the US Department of Health and Human Services reports suicide was the third leading cause of death. In the last 25 years, a report by the Congressional Black Caucus found that self-reported Black youth suicide attempts increased by 73% (PDF | 1 MB). Also, the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System discovered from 2011 to 2021. The percentage of Black students injured in a suicide was higher than that of other groups, while other demographic groups had either no change or a decrease. These numbers should be alarming to parents, educators, and policymakers across the country.
For many Black youth, identity is deeply personal. It is tied to pride, culture, history, and community. But it can also come with challenges. When young people begin to understand who they are in the world, they are also becoming aware of how the world may treat them. That awareness can be heavy.
Studies show that when young people strongly connect their identity to their sense of self, and at the same time experience or perceive racism, the emotional impact can be significant. Feelings of isolation, sadness, and frustration can build. For some, that pain can lead to depression and even thoughts of suicide.
This is not a failure of identity. It is a reflection of the pressures our young people are carrying, often without the tools or support they need to process those experiences.
Breaking the Silence
For generations, including my Gen X group, mental health has been a difficult topic in many communities, including the Black community. Strength was often defined by how much you could carry without saying a word. Pain was something you pushed through. Talking about how you felt was not always encouraged. But we are learning that silence can come at a cost.
Talking about how you feel is not a weakness. It takes courage to say that something is not right. It takes strength to let someone know that you are hurting. We are beginning to see that shift in real time. Public figures like Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles and Tennis great Naomi Osaka have stepped forward and shared their own struggles with mental health. So has NBA star Tyrese Haliburton, who talked about depression and anxiety. Their honesty has helped open doors for others to do the same. When young people see that kind of vulnerability and their ability to move forward, it permits them to speak. To share their thoughts. Out loud.
Making Sure Help Is Within Reach
One of the most important developments in recent years is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is simple. Dial or text three numbers, and you are connected to someone who will listen without judgment or criticism, and it’s confidential. Unfortunately, too many young people don’t know this resource exists. Others may not feel it is meant for them. That is where communities have to step in and meet young people where they are. In schools. On college campuses. In barbershops and salons. On social media platforms, where real conversations are already taking place. When the message feels authentic and relatable, young people respond. When they see themselves reflected in the message, they begin to trust it. And trust is everything. I have had the privilege of working on several mental health campaigns that target young African American youth and have seen the impact.12,800 flyers were distributed to barbershops and beauty salons across Georgia. We created 5 unique first-person videos that were geo-fenced around 10 HBCUs. Those videos garnered 515,744 impressions, which helped drive the message that help is available and we should not feel ashamed that we don’t feel okay.
The Power of Community and Connection
Real change does not just happen through messaging alone. It happens through connection. Young people listen to people they trust. Their friends. Their peers. Their mentors. Their family members. That is why it is so important to create spaces where honest conversations can happen without judgment. When a young person hears someone say, “I have been there too”, it breaks down barriers. It creates a path forward. Communities that lean into these conversations, instead of avoiding them, create safer environments for young people to speak up and seek help.
Supporting Families in the Process
Families are a critical part of this conversation. Many parents and caregivers want to help, but they may not always know what to look for or how to respond. Changes in behavior can be subtle. Conversations can feel uncomfortable. But they matter. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) champions families with their Resiliency Support Clubhouses and Youth Peer Drop-in Centers. Families are equipped with the right information and the confidence to engage, which can make a meaningful difference. A simple conversation. A willingness to listen. A reminder that their child is not alone. These moments can be life-changing.
A Path Forward
There is no single solution to a challenge this complex. But there are clear steps we can take together. We can create more access to mental health resources that reflect the lived experiences of Black youth. We can normalize conversations about mental health in our homes, schools, and communities. We can make sure every young person knows that asking for help is a sign of strength. We can continue to show up for one another, especially when it is difficult. This is about more than awareness. It is about action.
Closing Thought
Every young person deserves to feel seen. To feel heard. To feel valued. And every young person should know this truth. You do not have to carry everything on your own.
There is help. There is support. There is hope. Sometimes the most powerful thing a person can say is simple. I need help.
Our responsibility is to make sure that when those words are spoken, someone is always there to answer.