When will National Black Men’s Mental Health Day be celebrated? July 18th of each calendar year.
What is National Black Men’s Mental Health Day? National Black Men’s Mental Health Day is a day centered around a topic that has been taboo in the black community – black men’s mental health. Black men have been programmed to be providers, resilient, and exemplify strength in every aspect of the word. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been conversation or action around ways to endure all that comes with being a black man in America. This day is observed on July 18th every year. July is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Mental Health Awareness Month and the number 18 is associated with life, good fortune, and positive energy – the reason for the date of National Black Men’s Mental Health Day.
This day focuses and places emphasis around the mental health of black men specifically. It serves as an opportunity to open up the conversation around things that most black men avoid – how they’re feeling, what’s bothering them, what do they need to feel supported. Additionally, this day will set out to not only break the stigma of black men making their mental health a priority, but also to break the cycle of not seeking help when it is needed for future generations of black men to come. “It’s okay to not be okay,” and this day targets how to identify and address when you’re not okay as a black man.
How should National Black Men’s Mental Health Day be celebrated or observed? National Black Men’s Mental Health Day should be observed by doing things to keep your “cup full.” This day should be an opportunity to have candid conversations with other black men around your mental well-being. Additionally, it should serve as a mental “check-in” to be intentional about the state of your mental health as a black man and other black men around you. Encouraging utilizing mental health services and providing resources for such services should be discussed during these conversations as well. Using practices such as self-care will also be imperative in celebration of this day. Whether it’s going to the gym to indulge in your love for fitness, taking a day to read a book that you’ve been interested in, seeking out metal health services, or simply uplifting yourself and other black men around you, this day should be used to ultimately make the mental health of all black men, no matter the age, a number one priority.
Why was National Black Men’s Mental Health Day created? This day should pose the question of “What do black men do to keep moving forward?” With the adversity that black men face daily, there should be intentionality around how to navigate those ongoing adversities. National Black Men’s Mental Health Day serves as an opportunity to focus on the mental health of self and other black men around you.
Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death for black men ages 15-24. Additionally, it has been reported that only 26.4% of black men ages 18-44 who experienced daily feelings of anxiety or depression were likely to have used mental health services. Staggering statistics around adverse effects of poor mental health amongst black men call for a stronger focus on making black men’s mental health a priority. It has become clear that it is a topic that has gone unaddressed and National Black Men’s Mental Health Day is a day created to be intentional about promoting positive mental health of black men and ultimately, positively impacting statistics around the mental health of black men.
Who created this day? This day was created by Jeremy English in 2024.