A number of recent reports suggest that depression in the Afrikan community is an increasing concern requiring “urgent” action. As it stands, Afrikan people in the UK are nearly five times more likely to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act.(1) This is accompanied by fears of a rise in suicides (which can be a tragic outcome of depression) and that not only are “young black men more at risk when compared to their white counterparts” but also more at risk than Black women. (2) Moreover, some are worried that the situation is even more dire, due to undiagnosed depression. (3) Similarly, this brings into question the previous acknowledged suicide rate of Afrikan people given that it was more likely to be classified as ‘undetermined intent’, thus possibly under reported. (4)

There is a contention that “young African Caribbean Heritage men and women and in particular young men are more likely to report mental health concerns but that they are also the least likely to seek help.” (5) One factor could be the perceived stigma within the community around mental health that it is a sign of a character flaw or weakness, contrasting with notions of masculinity. But the overarching context of living in deprived areas and its disproportionate impact on mental health, driven by systemic racism and racial profiling has to be acknowledged. (6)

In addition, whatever the situation was previously, Covid-19 has made it worse. For example, a study by University College London (UCL) revealed increased levels of anxiety, unhappiness and dissatisfaction, as well as loneliness, thoughts of death and self-harming due to the impact of the pandemic and the policies and practices enacted as a result of it. (7)

The UCL report highlighted outcomes for Afrikan and Asian communities, compared to whites. However, many commentators assert that the “additional pressure of enslavement and colonialism has created psychological facets from a historical and generational perspective.” (8)

In terms of addressing this issue, mainstream services tend to lack cultural sensitivity with the tragic experiences of the likes of Roger Sylvester, Sean Rigg, Olaseni Lewis, Kingsley Burrell-Brown and Kevin Clarke as cautionary tales. (9)

There are services set up to serve the community, including:

• Bayo (sharing black mental health collectives, organisations and services across the UK).

• Black Minds Matter (connecting Black individuals and families to free mental health services).

• Mind UK’s Black young men program ( a free three-year program for 11 to 30 year olds). (10)

Such resources tend to be predicated on an acknowledgment of the issue and a willingness (or at least an inclination or attempt) to address it. They would be even more effective working with proactive families and the community at large. Alongside this must be a notion of what constitutes good mental health and what is required to achieve it.

(1) Sinai Fleary (16/02/23) ‘We need urgent action on Black mental health’. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/2023/02/16/we-need-urgent-action-on-black-mental-health/

(2) Claudia Cole (22/03/23) Black Communities and Suicide – Is it On the Rise? https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/black-communities.htm; Esther Poyer (15/02/21) The Truth Behind Young Black Men and Suicide in the UK. https://www.chatworkshackney.co.uk/the-truth-behind-young-black-men-and-suicide-in-the-uk/; Maia Niguel Hoskin, PhD (17/05/22) 5 Reasons Suicide Is on the Rise in the Black Community, According to a Psychiatrist. https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/reasons-suicide-is-on-the-rise-in-the-black-community-according-to-a-psychiatrist/

(3) Kwame McPherson (15/01/23) Men, Depression and Bottom-line. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/men-depression-bottom-line-kwame-mcpherson

(4) Cole. Op. cit.

(5) Poyer. Op. cit.

(6) Cole. Op. cit. McPherson. Op. cit.

(7) PA Media (17/08//22) Black people in England and Wales twice as likely to be fined for breaking lockdown rules https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/17/black-people-in-england-and-wales-twice-as-likely-to-be-fined-for-breaking-lockdown-rules; Poyer. Op. cit.

(8) McPherson. Op. cit.

(9) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (15/06/20) Have we done Enough to Support Death in Police Custody Families? https://www.alkebulan.org/2020/06/14/aswag-284-bdc-support/; Fleary. Op. cit.

(10) Cole. Op. cit.

So tonight we ask the question:

Depression: is it on the rise?

1) Can you identify the signs of depression in ourselves/others?

2) Are Afrikan men more at risk of suicide than Afrikan women?

3) Why did Covid-19 make things worse?

4) Can enslavement and colonialism really still impact our mental health?

5) Do we have enough culturally appropriate services and how do we encourage people to access them?

6) What is ‘good’ mental health and how do we acquire it?

Our Special Guest:

Bro. Kwame McPherson: is a prolific writer/content organiser, ghostwriter, authorpreneur, book mentor and orator. Bro. Kwame also assists therapists, coaches and speakers with organising and creating content. He is the author of My Date With Depression: from mental uncertainty to self-fulfilment and his short story Ocoee has won the Caribbean category of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2023

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