Back the Black
Join us in the movement to Make It OK to talk about mental health in our community
We got you!
It’s okay to not be okay, so let’s start healing together.
Join us in the movement to make it OK to talk about mental illnesses in the Black community.
Starting the Conversation:
Everyone's got a story.
Let’s take a look at some of the facts on mental health in our community:
More than 7 million Black people in the U.S. are living with a mental health condition
77% of African-American youth have diagnosed MH disorders
In 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Black people ages 15 to 24.
The death rate from suicide for black or African American men was four times greater than for African American women, in 2018.
Black females, grades 9-12, were 60 percent more likely to attempt suicide in 2019, as compared to non-Hispanic white females of the same age.
Poverty level affects mental health status. Black or African Americans living below the poverty level, as compared to those over twice the poverty level, are twice as likely to report serious psychological distress.
Fear, shame, stigma, and mistrust keep us from talking about mental health issues
Mental illnesses are something we don’t talk about enough, even though they’re common
Mental illnesses are treatable health conditions. Here are some of the common ones you or someone you know might be experiencing:
Join us in the movement
and let’s start healing together
Meet the Back the Black Committee Members
The Back the Black campaign was crafted over months by a dedicated focus group of Black professionals, who worked to brainstorm, strategize, and present ideas on how to modify the message from Healthiest State’s general Make It OK campaign and present it more effectively to the Black community.
Got a positive story on how Back the Black impacted you?
Leave us your testimonial (can be anonymous)
Sources:
https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&lvlid=24
https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-African-Americans.pdf
https://youth.gov/youth-topics/prevalence-mental-health-disorders-among-youth
Page updated as June 1, 2023