Black and Latino face challenges everyday due to their race and maleness. Society sometimes sees us as criminals, sexual deviants, and threats. We are impacted by the criminal justice system, unhoused, and unemployed at very rates. In our communities, we are often told to be tough, boys don’t cry, and be a man. Because of this, when we have depression, feel uncertainty, and deal with challenges, we are not encouraged to express them. Unfortunately, this can lead to isolation, loneliness, alcohol and drug abuse, and even violent outbursts. In this conversation, I will discuss why I feel we need to break away from the long held beliefs of not seeing a therapist, being vulnerable, seeking healthy outlets for our feelings, my story of finding a therapist, and why Black and Brown men should embrace mental health.
