Black men in Dayton find new ways to cope with mental health through conference

DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF) — One in five Americans are struggling with their mental health, according to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. They also say African Americans are 20% more likely to suffer from serious psychological distress. Camillia Harris, founder of Just Us, Mental Health Foundation hopes to change that with the a mental health conference specifically for African American men. There were a number of different organizations and mental health advocacy groups that shared different information about professional help in the area, as well as cost-free ways to destress, reduce anxiety, and prioritize yourself first. According to the Ohio Suicide Prevention, one in every three black adults who need mental health care actually receive it. “My family and I lost; we lost our father tragically in 2019 to suicide he actually completed a murder suicide,” said Harris. Harris said this conference is important because it helps men who are dealing with mental health issues and feeling hopeless. “What can I do different in my community, so that we come together as neighbors, and we embody and empower each other just to live healthy both mentally and physically,” said Harris. People listened to guest speaker’s stories on...