This post was originally published on Afro
By Maurice Carroll
Black male children are born into a culture where their way of life is showered with doubt, untrustworthiness, and systems of racism. Worries of White supremacy and high expectations — both self-imposed and externally forced — all take a back seat on the day that a Black boy is born, but what about the long-term effects over time? What happens to the mental care of Black men as we move through life? Where can we feel safe and heard? How do we address our mental health needs?
As September is Suicide Prevention Month, now more than ever, we need to encourage Black boys and men to mind their mental health — before it’s too late.
Here are three practices that I used to start my journey of mindfulness and mental health. This month, I encourage all Black men to think on how they can become better for themselves, their families and the community by tending to their own mental health and self-care needs.