An administrator at HBCU Lincoln University died by suicide. It’s raising painful questions about Black mental health

CNN  —  Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 to connect with a trained counselor or visit the 988 Lifeline website. Antoinette Candia-Bailey loved Lincoln University. A proud alum of the historically Black college, Candia-Bailey — known as “Bonnie” to her friends — stuck a Lincoln University bumper sticker on her mom’s new car as a freshman. When she graduated in 1998, her mother bought a brick in her name. And when she returned to the Jefferson City, Missouri, school last May as its Vice President for Student Affairs, friends say she was so excited that she purchased a second brick to commemorate her new role. Then, on January 8, Candia-Bailey died by suicide — five days after being let go for various reasons, including failing to address the concerns of employees under her supervision, according to the termination notice. In a final note emailed to staff at the university and friends, one of whom sent the letter to CNN, Candia-Bailey detailed a grim reality that was far from her early hopes for the position. She claimed she was...