Serving boys and men of
color to improve health
Banding together to create a safe, healing community with open discussions, a caring brotherhood, and pathways to care. We normalize conversations about mental health toward whole person care.
ANXIETY | DEPRESSION
HEALTH DISPARITIES FOR BMOC
An existing and growing body of research suggests that disparities result from a complex interplay of factors at the individual, interpersonal, community, and macro levels. Disparities among boys and men of color are largely the result of a cumulative set of factors, which include adverse socioeconomic conditions, lack of health insurance, and unequal access to health care, as well as lack of quality education, adequate housing, and employment.
Considering the social determinants of health, boys and men of color experience disproportionate levels of misdiagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness, over-medication, and high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Yet to be fully developed is an understanding of the multiple ways in which repetitive and multigenerational exposure to violence, oppression, neglect, discrimination, criminalization, and poverty can impact individuals and entire communities.
Because of these factors, we also address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), toxic stress, trauma, secondary trauma, and pathways to healing integrated with Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards (CLAS). The signature goal of this program is to engage participants in their personal mental health care, creating awareness and utilization of clinical and holistic resources, interventions, and treatment suited to the individual.
Sometimes, that voice in your head is the voice of someone’s opinion of you. Shut it off and listen to you.
OUR GOALS:
- Increase anti-stigma efforts around mental health in an effort to end prolonged suffering.
- Eliminate barriers to mental health care; effective systems change.
- Reduce utilization of public and private mental health services for non-acute cases.
- Enlighten participants on their own mental health issues, and how those can affect their overall health, and the health and well-being of their families, friends, and the larger community.
- Increase mental health support between peers, particularly in distress situations.
- Provide opportunities for mental health training to improve health outcomes and quality of life.
- Increased attention to self-care and integration of natural and holistic stress remedies for health improvement.
- Expanded partnerships to support the work.