ICYMI: Congresswoman Wilson and Rev. Al Sharpton host Field Hearing in New York on the Suicide and Mental Health of Black Men and Boys

On Friday, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Chair of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, and Reverend Al Sharpton hosted a field hearing with top mental health leaders on Suicide and Mental Health of Black Men and Boys. This field hearing took place in New York City in Harlem at the National Action Network on behalf of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys with top mental health leaders in the United States, celebrities, and other members of Congress.

The event mimicked a Congressional hearing with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, Congresswoman Lucy McBath, Congressman Hank Johnson, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, and Reverend Al Sharptonserving as the Congressional input with Marcus Smith, former NFL Eagles Linebacker, Dr. Jay Barnett, former NFL Green Bay Packers Player and Mental Health Expert, Dr. Arthur Evans, CEO of American Psychological Association, Mr. Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Dr. Anthony Estreet, CEO of the National Association of Social Workers, serving as the witnesses.

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said, "Historically, suicide has not been viewed as a problem specific to the Black community, so Black men continue to suffer in silence and take their own lives. We must address this public health crisis head-on and ensure our Black men and boys do not go unnoticed. So, as we recognize National Minority Mental Health Month in July, there is no more important issue to the Commission than the Mental Health and Black Men and Boys. I am proud to work with Reverend Al Sharpton, my Congressional colleagues, and a team of experts to address this crisis."

Reverend Al Sharpton said, "There's no one that doesn't know someone or has someone in their family who deals with some level of mental health, if not suicide tendency, then mental strain."

In the last 30 years, suicide rates for Black men and boys have increased by 160%. A JAMA study revealed that Black men had a larger increase in suicide attempts than any other racial group.

During the hearing, members of the public were able ask questions to the panelists and witnesses by calling in to Reverend Al Sharpton's "Keeping Reel" Radio show or by attending in person at the National Action Network. Audience members included the general public and the Young Doctors Project, a Youth nonprofit dedicated to investing in Black teenagers in Washington DC to become trained in preventive medicine, mental health, and health issues in underserved communities.

"I am committed to advancing policies that prioritize the mental health of our communities, particularly Black boys and men, whose mental well-being tends to be far worse than other groups," said Senator Butler. "As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to address and eliminate social stigmas to ensure that everyone has access to the mental health support they need."

Dr. Arthur C. Evans Jr., CEO of the American Psychological Association, said, "We cannot continue to focus on clinical treatment as our sole strategy for addressing people's mental health needs. Investing only in these approaches will not bring about different results when it comes to improving the mental health outcomes for Black men and boys. A complex, systemic issue like this requires big, systemic solutions. We must think in innovative ways and use multiple strategies - grounded in psychological science and a population health perspective, and informed by those with lived experience - to shape public policy and create meaningful change within and beyond our health care system."

Congresswoman Lucy McBath said, "I am a mother of a young, Black man, whose life was taken tragically by gun violence. The health and wellbeing of our Black men and boys is critical and paramount to me because each and every one of the young black men I see, I also see my Jordan."

Congressman Jonathan Jackson said, "Our children need to be in a nurturing environment, let us not take our eyes off of what they need to become healthy. We need communities that are committed to the development of their children."

Marcus Smith said, "Mental health is a topic that continues to need to be spoken about; I am a former six-year NFL veteran, but when you look at kids, they look up to us, and we have a duty to be role models for those children. I had a run-in with suicide when I played for the NFL. I have lived experiences, and I understand the experience of having mental health struggles."

"One of the biggest issues facing the mental health crisis revolves around workforce." Dr. Anthony Estreet, CEO of the National Association of Social Workers, said. "22% of social workers are people of color, which is the highest among all organizations, but there is a need to do better."

Black men are 75% less likely to have health insurance compared to other groups. Only a quarter of Black men ages 18-44 who experienced daily feelings of anxiety or depression are likely to use mental health services, while nearly half of non-Hispanic white men with similar symptoms are likely to use mental health services.

Black men also prefer and deserve a same-race provider for psychiatric care, given the nature of some mental health experiences that are specific to the challenges facing Black men and boys, such as racism. The underrepresentation of Black healthcare professionals makes finding culturally appropriate and effective care challenging. Many Black men give up on seeking care before trying to address these challenges. The lack of accessible care, coupled with a lack of Black providers and systemic racism, jeopardizes the mental health of Black men and boys.

Mr. Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said, "We have to increase our hope, and to do that, we have to increase access to platforms like this that allow for an increase in discussion. It's about collaboration, and we see through these forums help give hope."

Congressman Hank Johnson said, "In this county, it's always been a pressure cooker for Black men, because when we were brought to this country against our will, they had to break our spirit, they had to put us in a box and subjected us to all kinds of intensive pressure. Over the years the contours of the box have changed, but the box is still here, and the pressure being applied is even greater."

This was the second of three in-person hearings hosted by the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys on the Suicide and Mental Health of Black Men and Boys. A third hearing will be hosted in Miami in the future.

For the full livestream of the hearing, click here.

For photos of the hearing, click here.

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