STUDY: Black Men Fend Off Depression If They Discuss Racism Openly

Black men who openly discuss their challenges with racism and discrimination are less likely to suffer from depression than brothas who “man up” and keep their stress inside, Ebony reports.

SEE ALSO: Junior Seau Dead From Suicide 

Suicide is the third most common cause of death among Black men between the ages of 15-25 years of age, so the importance of men feeling comfortable sharing their stress with a trusted confidant is critical to their emotional well-being.

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The study from which this data is drawn was conducted by University of North Carolina professor Wizdom Powell Hammond and published in the American Journal of Public Health. She and her team of researchers tested nearly 700 men ages 18 and up throughout the United States. Participants were found mostly at barbershops and given $25 gift certificates towards their next trip in the bbarber’s chair.

Here is a part of the interview Ebony contributing writer Akiba Solomon conducted with the Hammonds:

Here, Hammond, who is also a White House Fellow, explains why her study deals with everyday racism, how fantasies of the strong silent type can be soul-killing for Black men, and what Black women can do to help our brothers and lovers fend off depression.