A New Legacy

We are celebrating Men's Mental Health Awareness Month by honoring the role of men in society.

But let’s be clear—honor doesn’t just mean saying “we appreciate you” while demanding you grind yourself into an early grave.

Patriarchy didn’t just hurt women—it weaponized masculinity, trained men to suppress emotion, and told them to shut up, man up, and die quietly if necessary. It praised strength but never taught how to heal. It gave men one job: provide and protect, but somehow forgot to include stay alive long enough to actually do that.

Sound familiar?

According to the CDC, life expectancy for men in the U.S. dropped by nearly 2 years between 2018 and 2022, largely due to preventable diseases, untreated mental health, and—yes—overdoses and suicide. This isn’t just tragic; it’s orchestrated. Men are taught to avoid doctors, dismiss therapy, and stay “stoic” while their hearts literally explode under pressure.

And let’s talk facts: chronic stress and untreated depression are directly linked to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and stroke—the top killers of Black men. (American Heart Association, 2023)

You can’t protect your family if you’re in the hospital.
You can’t provide from a casket.
You can’t lead if your mind and body are breaking down from the inside out.

So here it is: this month (and every damn month after), it’s time to unlearn the silence and reclaim your mental, physical, and emotional health—not just for survival, but for legacy. Below are the top 4 mental health issues Black men deal with, with clear, real-life solutions backed by science and rooted in healing.

1. Depression

The Silent Weight

You’re expected to be solid 24/7—but depression doesn’t care how strong you look. Black men are diagnosed less but suffer more. Symptoms show up as exhaustion, irritability, or numbing out. We’ve just been taught not to name it.

Daily Moves for Healing:

• Nutrition Tip: Add omega-3s into your meals: flaxseeds, salmon, walnuts. These fats improve brain chemistry and mood. (Harvard Health, 2021)

• Holistic Practice: Start your day with 10 minutes of sunlight and slow breathing. It boosts serotonin and reduces cortisol—your mental reset.

2. Anxiety

Always On Edge

We call it “being alert,” but it’s actually a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight. Growing up in survival mode—whether due to racism, poverty, or family trauma—programs the brain to stay on guard. That tension eventually becomes chronic illness.

Daily Moves for Healing:

• Nutrition Tip: Eat more magnesium-rich foods (pumpkin seeds, spinach, dark chocolate). Magnesium calms the nervous system and supports better sleep. (Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2012)

• Holistic Practice: Try box breathing: 4 seconds in, 4 hold, 4 out, 4 hold. Works wonders before bed or during stress.

3. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress)

Unhealed Battles

Living through the constant threat (whether real or implied)—from police to family dysfunction—rewires your brain. PTSD is more common in Black men than most studies even acknowledge and usually goes untreated or mislabeled as “anger problems.”

Daily Moves for Healing:

• Nutrition Tip: Use turmeric in your food (or tea). Its anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects help support both body and brain. (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2017)

• Mushroom Adaptogens: Use the supplement Here’s your clickable link:

  Mushroom Magic Reishi has calming properties that help regulate the nervous system, which is often overactive in people with PTSD. Supports adrenal balance – Helps regulate cortisol (the stress hormone), which is often elevated due to trauma.

• Holistic Practice: Move your body daily—even a 20-minute walk changes how your brain processes trauma. Nature walks in particular reduce rumination and anxiety.

4. Emotional Numbing & Escapism

The Mask We Wear

Drinking, smoking, scrolling, overworking—it's all an escape from feelings we were never taught to handle. Self-medication might feel like peace, but it’s just silence in disguise.

Daily Moves for Healing:

• Nutrition Tip: Sip ashwagandha tea in the evenings. It helps regulate cortisol and reduces dependency on “numbing” tools. (Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2012)

• Holistic Practice: Keep a simple 3-line journal:

  1. How you feel

  2. What you need

  3. What you’re proud of
     That’s not “soft,” that’s strategy.

No More Dying for the Role

The job isn’t just to work until your body gives out. The job is to live, to be here, to thrive—so you can lead your family, community, and future from a place of wholeness.

You are not disposable.
You are not a machine.
And your presence—your well presence—is the most valuable resource we have.

3 Free Mental Health Resources for Black Men:

1. The Boris L. Henson Foundation
   Free therapy programs curated for Black men.
   www.borislhensonfoundation.org

2. Black Men Heal
   Free and low-cost therapy for Black men by culturally competent providers.
   www.blackmenheal.org

3. BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective)
   Offers healing tools, support spaces, and trauma-informed training.
   www.beam.community

Ready to dig deeper?
Check out the book “Defeating Depression Allegedly” by Rooted AF founder Nikita Thomas. It unpacks depression in practical ways and includes an actionable cookbook and guide to elevating levels of joy and fulfillment. Click Link Here’s your clickable link: Defeating Depression