An actor and a life coach talk mental health in the Black community

HEALTH (25News Now) – According to a 2023 Report from the CDC, Black people were the leading demographic for mental health emergency room visits. Curtiss Cook appears in the showtime series, “The Chi”, and says his mental health journey hasn’t been easy. He’s always dealt with depression and feelings of loneliness, but therapy has helped. Cook told 25News he’s always dealt with depression and recalls feeling trapped and unmotivated to do things daily. However, Cook says therapy has helped him communicate with people better and made him an avid listener. He also says his support dog Bolo helps take his mind off of the stressors in life. “For me, I can get into a place where I just don’t move. I’ll sit. read, stay in, and watch TV. I won’t go out at all. Nowadays, because of Bolo, I can’t do that,” said Cook. “He’s a big dog, he needs to exercise, he needs to go out, and he needs attention.” Local Certified Life Coach, Jaycee Bradley specializes in addiction and abuse trauma recovery. Yet she deals with those stressed out from work, life, and whatever’s going on in the community. Bradley says in many Black homes, people are taught...