As a community, we have work to do to seek help if we need it and to develop mental wellness practices in general. This is especially true for black men; and while it’s not talked about enough, we’ve compiled a list of online communities that can provide resources and serve as a safe haven for discussions about black men’s mental health.
Black men heal/@blackmenheal
Black Men Heal is a nonprofit organization that provides free, quality access to mental health treatment, education, and resources to men of color who may not be able to get the help they need. they need. You can also find transparent content on various mental health topics on their social media, which can provide a healing environment. If you think therapy may be a good choice for you or are just curious, this account has many videos where black men share their own experiences with therapy. They are open and honest about how therapy has been a space where they can express themselves without judgment.
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“Man to Man Podcast: A Series on Well-Being”
black love “Podcast “From Man to Man” covers healing, wellness and mental health. Each week the topics change, but each episode will be focused on Black men and allow you to hear the perspectives of other successful Black men who lead with honesty and vulnerability.. It’s so rare to hear black men express their emotions. Black men are constantly told to be strong and phrases like “be a man” are so harmful because they equate manhood with how much you can take without breaking. But I think the best thing you can do is take care of yourself and that includes your mental well-being. The “Man to Man” podcast is a great place to listen to black men express themselves and overcome these difficult emotions.
Alliance for Black Mental Health/@bmhofficial
The Black Mental Health Alliance is an online community dedicated to providing mental health content to the Black community. They are a wonderful space that provides resources for learning, healing and support. No one should have to feel alone when it comes to healing. It’s so important to have a space of like-minded people coming together to heal and grow, and the Black Mental Health Alliance is a good place to follow your mental wellness journey.
Jarred Denzel/@jarred.denzel
Jarred is a mental health advocate who regularly posts videos discussing difficult topics for black men. Jarred has curated an online space where he advocates for men getting the mental health care they need and posts about his own personal struggles and how he overcame them. Jarred gives off a lively and friendly vibe that can make him feel like your own hype man. He has truly cultivated his social media presence in an authentic and fun way that can provide a space for healing.
Therapy for Black Men/@therapyforblckmen
Therapy for Black Men provides many helpful mental health resources aimed at the black male audience. If you go to their site Therapyforblackmen.org, they can help you find a therapist, a coach, and even financial assistance for therapy. Deciding whether you want to pursue therapy as a step in your mental health journey is a very personal decision. Often, it can seem easier to open up to someone with a similar background and Therapy for Black Men may be the resource you use to find the right therapist for you.
Men to heal/@men_to_heal
James Harris is the founder of Men to heal, and he holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling. Before his current journey, he was a former Army veteran deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and after serving, he underwent therapy. He found the experience unengaging because the available therapists were white men who could not understand his experience of the world. This ultimately led him to create Men to Heal. Men to Heal raises awareness about the stigma surrounding the mental health of men and underserved populations. The Men to Heal movement encourages men to pay attention to their overall well-being (physical, mental and emotional) and to understand themselves better.
The black therapist/@theblack_therapist
Aaron is a licensed therapist who posts informative mental health content in an easily digestible way. He is a true advocate for black men seeking support and is open and honest about mental health issues. Black therapists make up only about 3% of the psychology workforce, and finding a black male therapist is even rarer since the field of psychology tends to have a higher percentage of women. Let’s celebrate the black men who are working to change this narrative!
Kier Gaines/@kiergaines
Kier Gaines is a mental health advocate and licensed therapist who shares short videos featuring wellness tips. You can find him talking about everything from finding your balance to forgiveness and parenting. Gaines frequently shares his personal mental health journey on social media and each month he shares a new affirmation with his followers to bring them motivation and positive vibes.
Express yourself black man/@expressyourselfblackman
Express yourself black man is a healing community for black men to express themselves in healthy ways. The platform gives black men access to therapists and other mental health resources. You will find various content focused on mental health, relationships and personal development. In addition to their social media content, the creators founded an app called Safe haven which is a holistic healing platform. It’s essentially a free one-stop shop for all your mental health needs, from educational content to providing a medical concierge service that schedules doctor appointments.