A safe Space to Unburden: how One Group is Tackling the Black Male Mental Health Crisis
A growing mental health group in Los Angeles is offering Black men a vital space for vulnerability and support, as suicide rates within the community continue to rise.
The need for culturally competent mental health resources for Black men has become increasingly urgent. Founded by Desmond Carter,Mental Health Is Real Wealth provides a bi-monthly haven in Los Angeles’ Leimert Park neighborhood where men can openly address their emotional well-being without pressure or the presence of women. A recent gathering saw 15 Black men – ranging in age from 19 to well over twice that age – connect through shared experiences and a commitment to self-care. The scene was one of immediate camaraderie, with greetings exchanged through “daps” and embraces, many sporting clothing representing Los Angeles culture.
Carter, 37, created the group after the tragic loss of his best friend to suicide following a diagnosis of schizophrenic depression. He recounts the pain of that loss, remembering his friend as “funny, fly and clever,” but also someone who concealed his struggles. “It happened literally 10 years ago, and it’s still tough,” carter said.”It led me to do what I’m doing now. I see so many of my peers and people who look like me walking around, fly, cool, fresh with the weight of the world on their shoulders, and acting like they are just fine.”
The group’s emergence comes at a critical time. Suicide rates among Black boys and men have increased by 25.3% in recent years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicide is now the third leading cause of death for black male adolescents and young adults, with black men representing a disproportionately large percentage of all suicides within the Black population.
Before and after the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, access to emotionally healthy spaces for Black men was limited. Existing systemic barriers contribute to the problem: disparities, alongside systemic racism and social injustice, as significant contributors to these challenges. Moreover, “deaths of despair” – those resulting from suicide, alcohol use, and drug overdoses – are now higher among Black individuals than among their white counterparts. The men in Carter’s group articulated the additional pressures of navigating a patriarchal society and adhering to conventional masculine roles, including the expectation to appear strong and suppress emotions.
Some attendees were encouraged to join by fellow community members, while others were grappling with stress, depression, or a sense of overwhelming uncertainty. One participant, whose father and grandfather both lived with bipolar disorder, expressed concern about repeating generational patterns of suppressed emotions. “If I can do anything, if I look back and look at their lives and see that they didn’t do this, that they didn’t express themselves,” he said, “They were mad, and it took years, and then they just were more mad. And then something happened in their life, something flipped.”
Wayne Bennett, president of Mental Health is Wealth and a corporate wellness consultant, emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space where men can shed their “masks” and break generational cycles of emotional repression. “This is a great gateway to going into therapy,” co-moderator Bennett, 41, said. “A lot of the men talk about being depressed or not having any type of leadership growing up and just kind of having to figure things out on their own. A lot of the men may have never been to therapy before, so this is a great gateway to going into therapy.”
In a city like Los Angeles, with a history of police brutality, gang violence, and mass incarceration disproportionately impacting Black men, building trust is paramount. bennett notes that Black men often anticipate transactional or aggressive interactions, making it arduous to forge genuine connections. Carter founded the group in 2022 as a preventative measure, hoping to encourage Black men to consider counseling and therapy. He also recognizes the healing power of simply having a space to share and be heard. “I just wanted this to be a space where they could kind of just dump, not only dump, but also celebrate wins as well,” he said. “I want this space for people and for our brothers to get their flowers.”
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