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‘U Good?’ Why It’s Important to Check On Black Men’s Mental Health

April 2, 2021

Why do Black men avoid help? Seeking mental health treatment doesn’t often happen because of the stigma attached to the medical industry. The consequences are negative attitudes or mistrust toward providers, cultural lack of information, unwillingness to acknowledge feelings of inadequacy, and lack of health insurance. Communities of color experience socioeconomic disparities such as educational, social, and economic resources.

Why don’t men talk about their feelings? Vulnerability is a taboo word that the Black culture has long associated with being weak or too sensitive. During childhood, men are taught not to show emotions. Over time, a pent-up and boxed-in mentality creates an individual who can’t properly articulate feelings.

For men to get help, they must be willing to have those hard conversations. Thankfully, for African American men, mental health is no longer a taboo topic. Ali Gates, Evans Anyanwu, Johnson Ejezie, and Ezekiel Awoyemi have created a conversation starter with a mental health awareness app called “U Good?” that will enable people to connect with their contacts without making a call. Co-founder Evans stated that “communication is such that people want to say a lot without saying a lot.” With this app, it’s easy to stay in touch with your network of friends, all while asking that simple question, “U good?”

Read more at RollingOut.com.

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The NNED has been a multi-agency funded effort with primary funding by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It is managed by SAMHSA's Office of Behavioral Health Equity, and the NNED National Facilitation Center operated by Change Matrix.
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