07/23/2025
This week Kodak Redy Consultant Services, LLC had the amazing pleasure of joining forcing with Synergy Counseling of Greenwood to speak at the amazing Piedmont 3 Masonic Annual Meeting on the importance of Black Mens Mental Health… Over 100 black men were in attendance…
Special thank you to Cece Paul-Hill & Synergy Counseling of Greenwood for this extended opportunity to share and promote Men-TAL Health Awareness!
“Why The Black Man’s Mind Matters”
A Speech on the Urgency of Mental Health for Black Men
When challenged with the task of speaking to black men on why mental health is important, I paused briefly and asked myself:
What can a 35-year-old African American woman say to a Black man about the importance of his mental health?
Then it hit me.
What is the message I so diligently try to communicate to my son, my brother, my friends, and the black community as a whole.
The Black man is no different. His emotions, thoughts, fears, ambitions, and pride are vital components of his manhood. His ability to express those feelings in ways that reflect his authentic self is not just valuable—it is essential for his mental wellness.
Who he is now, and who he is becoming, can be nurtured, challenged, and expanded through therapeutic support. But that journey—one of self-awareness, healing, and peace—has too often been denied, delayed, or dismissed by the societal perception that black men don’t have time to stand in emotional vulnerability but in emotional survival .
Unapologetically and repeatedly, the Black man has been told that he is unwanted, unneeded, and undeserving of love, respect, and rest. Not only from others—but even from himself. This persistent ridicule and systemic mockery has worked overtime to distort his self-image and silence his emotional truth.
But the statistics of mental health paint a different picture and tell a very different story. Here’s what we know to be true:
• Su***de is now the third leading cause of death for Black men ages 15–24.
• Only one in three Black adults who need mental health care receives it.
• Black men are less likely than any other demographic to receive consistent mental health treatment—but more likely to experience chronic stress, trauma, and discrimination.
• Nearly 70% of Black men with mental health conditions go undiagnosed or untreated.
* In South Carolina, 18.0% of Black individuals reported experiencing depression, which is higher than the national average for Black individuals (16.0%).
* the effects of untreated mental health leads to physical deterioration, stress related chronic illness, and pre-mature deaths.
The harsh reality is these findings aren’t just statistics. These are our brothers, sons, fathers, partners, friends- black men carrying invisible burdens in silence.
For generations, society has linked the Black man’s worth to his physical labor, his financial output, his ability to endure pain without complaint. His mind, his peace, and his emotional well-being have been overlooked, minimized, and neglected. This dangerous conditioning fosters a disconnection from his internal world—leaving emotional wounds that never got the chance to heal.
But here’s the real truth: emotional regulation and self-awareness are not signs of weakness but of strength. Of courage and resilience. These fundamental tools are a black mans superpower.
The Black man is bold. He is creative. He is protective in mind, body, and spirit. He is deserving—of support, of peace, and of healing. The essence of who he is cannot be measured by productivity or performance alone. He is more than his hours worked or the number reflected in his account.
When a Black man is emotionally whole, his pride in himself radiates through his family, his friends, his community and his culture. When black men are able to create space for their mental wellness, they become unstoppable.
The Black man’s mind is his greatest weapon. And protecting that mind is not optional—it is urgent.
Now more than ever, we need our Black men whole—not hardened. We need to dismantle the myth that therapy, vulnerability, and emotional honesty are signs of brokenness. These are acts of rebellion. These are declarations of worth. These are paths to liberation.
There is no greater time than now to recognize and accept that as a black Man:
Your mind matters. Your peace matters. You as an individual matter.
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Call to Action
To every Black man hearing this: Start the journey. Whether it’s journaling your thoughts, speaking with a trusted brother, joining a support circle, or seeking therapy—take that first step. Your healing is not just for you—it is a gift to generations who will follow you. It’s ok to not be okay. But it is significantly important that we take action to create a better tomorrow.
I challenge everyone here today—as Black men: to find yourself a safe space. People who can Listen without judgment. Validate you without condition. Encourage you without shame. Remind you that you are not alone. You are worthy. you are needed. And most importantly you are deserving of a mental and emotional wellness. “
