About three quarters of suicide cases in the U.K are men and as it is, this stands at about 18 men per day.
One in five males in England and Wales are black or Asian and social challenges, like racism and inequalities are top factors that are believed to push BAME men to take their lives.
Racism, inequalities, and mental health stigma are major factors attributed to cause mental health issues in black communities. Their is a likelihood that exposure to racism can make a person experience mental health problems like psychosis and depression.
Other issues include experience poverty and homelessness, being unemployed, issues with police and/or the criminal justice system and challenges accessing services.
Talking about mental health issues or other issues like sexual health in relation to relating men in the African community is regarded as a taboo or a no go area. A man is not supposed to be 'weak' as he is to be a ''leader in the community and and his household'' so he has to show 'strength' in mind and character. Many issues arise from this topic and one of these is that are we still living in that age where the African man HAS to be the strong one?
Can an African man 'cry' without guilt or shame? Do men have to bear the brunt of problems in the household in a community where women are just as capable or even better at "steering the ship"? If you have a view on this and you want to share your views please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
