By Paula Penebaker
Special to The Times Weekly
Being a Black man in America often means being your brother’s keeper. Yet, when it comes to mental health, many Black men still struggle to tackle this important issue.
Today, this topic is being discussed more openly since actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. Just moments later, Smith received his first-ever Oscar win, a milestone overshadowed by his earlier confrontation with Rock. Viewers watched Smith experience a rollercoaster of emotions, including happiness, anger and remorse, within the span of one award show.
Dr. Rahn Bailey, a psychiatrist believes this moment highlights the mental health struggles many Black men are grappling with. “Part of the issue is that Black men are not respected and valued at the same level as some other human beings in our society,” Dr. Bailey said.
Depression remains one of the most common, yet underrecognized and undertreated mental illnesses among Black men, according to the National Institute of Health. Their mental health is more complex than statistics or clinical diagnoses indicate, as they are forced to balance many unspoken pressures, unrealistic expectations and unfair stereotypes.
“But violence, in any form, does more harm than good 99% of the time — other than self-defense,” Dr. Bailey said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only made matters worse. People have faced new and challenging realities.
“As far as COVID, I think the misinformation our society is exposed to now in the healthcare domain is frightening,” Dr. Bailey said. “We have to keep our eye on the ball.”
Whether Black men are on stage, in the boardroom or on the block, their emotions and state of mind need to be taken seriously. Their mental health matters.
Dr. Rahn Bailey is a psychiatrist and Department Head of Psychiatry School of Medicine at LSU.
