MENTAL HEALTH

Mental well-being is an overall positive and hopeful emotional state fueled by a sense of purpose and satisfaction with life, work, and relationships. It is supported by the capacity to adapt to life’s stressors which impact our mental and physical health.

The Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health reports that Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness, hopelessness, and feelings that everything is an effort.

Individuals in the Black community likely experience distressing events that affect their mental health. Racism, discrimination, and inequity affect a person’s psychological well-being. The stress may increase a person’s risk of mental illness. Some experiences may even be traumatizing.

Financial problems tend to increase the chances of an individual will experience serious psychological distress. Black adults who live below the poverty line are two times more likely to report serious psychological distress than those living above it. It is also important to remember that these social determinants of health are all layered, with racism adding in another substantial layer.

Mental Health in the Black Community

• Adult Blacks and African Americans are more likely to have feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than adult whites.

• Blacks and African Americans are less likely than white people to die from suicide at all ages. However, Black and African American teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide than White teenagers (9.8 percent v. 6.1 percent).

• Sixteen percent (4.8 million) of Black and African American people reported having a mental illness, and 22.4 percent of those (1.1 million people) reported a serious mental illness over the past year.