Black Mental Matters

This conversation focuses on the critical issue of mental health among black men, highlighting the unique challenges they face due to systemic racism, societal expectations, and cultural stigma. The hosts discuss the importance of community support, the need for more culturally competent mental health professionals, and the significance of open conversations about mental health. Personal stories a...

In this episode of Black Mental Matters, Vince The Voice and Coach Makeba discuss the critical role of empathy in mental health, especially within the Black community. They explore the concept of empathy, its importance in today's emotionally charged environment, and the challenges faced by highly sensitive individuals. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-care among empaths and offers pr...

In this episode of Black Mental Matters, Vince The Voice and Coach Makeba discuss the complexities of grief, particularly within the Black community. They explore the grieving process, the impact of loss on daily life, and the importance of processing emotions. The conversation also touches on memorializing loved ones and practical coping strategies, including the therapeutic benefits of boxing. T...

In this episode of Black Mental Matters, hosts Vince The Voice and Coach Makeba Reed Johnson discuss the significance of Mental Health Awareness Month, emphasizing the importance of understanding mental health, particularly within the Black community. They explore cultural perspectives on mental health, the impact of mental health on daily life, and the importance of therapy and alternative therap...

According to a new scientific report, the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Black and other children of color, leading to higher rates of severe cases, hospitalizations, deaths and many other adverse effects. Compared to white children, Black children died 2.7 times more often, were hospitalized 2.2 times more often and were vaccinated at lower rates than white children. We discuss the...

Although the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the job market is still unknown, it is definitely possible to identify some of the main effects on employers, employees and workplaces. A rash of surveys have painted a bleak picture of workers' mental health because of the coronavirus pandemic. As people are "getting back to work" willingly or not, companies, supervisors, and even co-workers ca...

In the United States, only 6% of the 1.5 million faculty in degree-granting postsecondary institutions is Black. The new book, We're Not Ok: Black Faculty Experiences and Higher Education Strategies shares the experiences of Black faculty to take the reader on a journey, from the obstacles of landing a full-time faculty position through the unique struggles of being a Black educator at a predomina...

Over recent years, mental health has slowly moved out of the shadows. Yay!!!! After centuries of being sidelined, our state of mental well-being is gradually receiving more of the attention that it deserves. However, many myths persist. On this episode we talk with Shelly-Anne Johnson, MSW, LCSW to address the untruths related to our mental well-being!

Whether you realize it or not, you and someone you know is experiencing the debilitating and life altering impact of individual and collective trauma. Well that’s pretty depressing, right? Well, yes and no! What is the point of feeling shame for experiencing something that every person is experiencing, and feeling alone in, simply because we are too ashamed to share our stories and reshape them in...

Each year millions of Americans with mental illness struggle to find mental health care. Nearly half of the 60 million adults and children living with mental health conditions in the United States go without any treatment. People who seek treatment must navigate a fragmented and costly system full of obstacles. As a result, many people cannot access mental health care when they need it most. We ta...

Many things get passed down through families, like heirlooms, genetic conditions, and physical characteristics. In some cases, trauma can be inherited, too. Generational trauma (also known as intergenerational trauma or transgenerational trauma) is still a relatively new field of study, meaning researchers have a lot to discover about its impact and how it presents in people who suffer from it. We...

Every year in the United States, more than 45,000 people take their own lives. Their final act doesn’t need to define their life. From his personal experience Vince and Makeba share ways you can try to navigate the shock, confusion, and despair and begin the healing process. We admonish listeners to try to remember and celebrate the important, joyous aspects of their life and of your relationship...

While the birth of a child can be a wonderful and joyous time for many women, for some women it is a time of sadness, anxiety, loneliness, and worry that does not go away. In fact, up to 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression, a very real and serious mood disorder. What if we were to tell you that women of color experience postpartum depression at double the rate of the general population?...

No, the vaccine isn’t an effort to sterilize Black people. It can’t alter your DNA. It won’t implant a microchip to track your movements. And no, Black Folks and other people of color are not being used as guinea pigs. Despite the desired intent for vaccination, there are still barriers preventing increased vaccination rates in the Black Community. One of the main reasons for lower vaccination rat...

College can be a stressful time for young people and their parents... When you add COVID, racism, police brutality, and other obstacles, it can become downright frightening and lead our young people into unwanted situations. On this episode we talk with Dr John Dunkle of the JED Foundation. JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adul...

With the news of Simone Biles pulling out of the Olympic finals and choosing her mental health first, we are seeing a movement among elite Black athletes who are taking a public stand to advocate for their own and others’ mental health. There has been a surge of elite athletes who have spoken out and shown the strain of what it is like to be under pressure and to be in the limelight.

Critical race theory (CRT) is an academic movement of civil-rights scholars and activists in the United States who seek to critically examine U.S. law as it intersects with issues of race in the U.S. and to challenge mainstream American liberal approaches to racial justice. Over the past six months, Republicans in more than two dozen states have proposed bills that aim to stop educational discussi...

Our culture, beliefs, sexual identity, values, race and language all affect how we perceive and experience mental health conditions. In fact, cultural differences can influence what treatments, coping mechanisms and supports work for us. In order for the Black Community to improve mental health outcomes overall, we need more culturally competent professionals that look like, speak like and underst...

Could what you believe about yourself impact your success or failure? Believe it or not, your beliefs play a pivotal role in what you want and whether you achieve it. It is your MINDSET that plays a significant role in determining achievement and success. It influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given situation. On this episode, we discuss how to develop a good mindset with Mindset Mas...

The pandemic has taken a toll on all aspects of life, including romantic relationships. Having a good relationship is no piece of cake even in normal times. Lockdown doesn't make it any easier, with its psychological stress and restrictions on social contacts. So how can relationships still thrive? We’ll dig into what’s keeping couples together or breaking them apart with Minister and Couples Coun...

White supremacy in the United States has existed since before the nation’s founding, and U.S. history is beyond full of violence against people of color. The enslavement of Black people, an inherently violent white supremacist practice, was upheld by legal, societal, religious, and economic justifications. And throughout U.S. history, white supremacy has shaped the attitudes and laws of who could...

Historically, churches that serve the black community haven’t just functioned as houses of worship. Black churches have also served as broader community resource centers, fostering social engagement, and encouraging political participation. As mental health becomes a rapidly growing concern in the black community, we call upon religious leaders to recognize their place as not just spiritual leader...

Studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affects Black people in the United States in severity, mortality, economics, and more. As COVID-19 vaccines make their way down the supply chain, more and more people will find themselves going to clinics, pharmacies, sports arenas, and other traditional or nontraditional sites to receive them. Yet everyone, especially Black Folks ar...

When building a successful business, career, etc, everything screams for attention. Within that flood, why prioritize customer service? In short, because happy customers lead to more money, growth, and sustainability. Many times we take customer service for granted or only recognize it when it is bad... On this episode, we talk to Businessman DJ Webb about his successful company and how good custo...

As we set ourselves up for a successful 2021 and check our priorities in life, consider your total well-being and how it can be improved. Totally Well is not just about your health, being sick or having a medical condition. It’s about a balance of all things, an overall feeling that your life is going well. As expert Dr Sandra Jackson Dent tells us, becoming "Totally Well" comes from your thoughts...