The Suicide Method Never Discussed in the Black Community Regarding Men

In honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness week, it is time to have a conversation about Black men and their mental health. We discuss how they lead the community in the highest rates of completed suicides by firearms, etc. but we don’t discuss the other methods that are killing our men as well: drugs and alcohol.

Quick Facts about Black Men and suicide:

1. 6–7 Black Men die a day by suicide (AAS.org, 2017)

2. Most common method of suicide is by firearms, 2nd is suffocation

3. Caribbean American men are the leaders of completed suicide in the Black Community

4. For every 1 female that attempts suicide, 3 men complete suicide

If you never heard the term slow suicide it is “A prolonged period of self-abusive, harmful behavior, which may result in suicide completion” (Segan’s Medical Dictionary). When we look at our music, our movies and shows we see a lot of drinking, smoking, and popping pills to cope and self-medicate. For many of our men, they aren’t just numbing, they don’t give a F**** about life or what happens to them, so they are mixing all different drugs and alcohol not caring if they wake up or not.

In Hip-Hop music, from Notorious B.I.G to Jay-Z, and our current artists Future to J. Cole, our men have discussed their battles with depression, hopelessness, and not caring if death is knocking at their door because they are sick and tired of feeling down. Many turn to drugs, some put guns to their head but scared to pull the trigger, some become violent hoping that one day they will meet their match.

In Rick Ross’s new memoir Hurricanes, he discusses how his multiple seizures in 2018 was caused by his addiction to codeine, alcohol, and other drugs he used to cope with stress when in reality he could’ve died. He also discusses how he didn’t take medications prescribed by his doctor to prove he was stronger than that causing more health issues. Another problem in the Black Community; trying to show strength by not accepting help or resources which is also harming our men and women.

This article is not saying that all Black men that use drugs or alcohol are trying to die by suicide; using excessively can also be due to addiction or they are coping with untreated mental illnesses. But it is important to differentiate the difference between an addiction and a slow suicide.

If you or someone you know:

1. Mixes various drugs and alcohol together daily or frequently knowing that it can cause an overdose or health complications but refuse to stop.

2. Tends to live dangerously: intoxicated and driving fast or reckless, engaging in risky behavior that can lead to death or serious injury.

3. Taking .unknown drugs and having a carefree attitude about it

4. When they drink or do drugs, they often talk about death and state they don’t worry or care when it happens; “I’m ready”.

They may be suicidal or experiencing severe hopelessness which can turn into becoming suicidal.

How can we reduce the suicide rates for our community?

Continuing the conversation about mental health and seeking therapy is always a great way to get our men the help they need but also the push for addiction recovery is needed. As a mental health professional that has worked within the addiction population for years; our community is not checking into to outpatient or residential treatment centers on their own as much as other communities are. The Black community must understand that drinking or smoking excessively is not healthy or just blowing off stress. Addiction is leading to health issues, death, and stress on our loved ones. It’s time for addiction to not be our crutch for dealing with life or speeding up the process of death; the Black community need to create more space for our men to be vulnerable about their emotions, struggles, and allow them to speak out about their hurt.

If you or someone you know is battling with thoughts of suicide, you don’t have to suffer alone. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1–800–273–8255

For a free inforgraphic about depression and suicide for Black men click here