Black men speak up about mental health barriers and resources

WASHINGTON D.C. — Suicide is one of the leading causes of death nationwide and the numbers are rising at alarming rates for black boys and men. This month, Black congressional leaders took a closer look at this crisis during a recent hearing. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It was organized by the Caucus on the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. It was also supported by The Sonrise Project, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded by Kelli Richardson Lawson, that provides a safe space for Black families facing mental health challenges. The panel of witnesses included social workers, psychologists and even athletes turned advocates like former NFL linebacker Marcus Smith. “Even though I had millions of dollars and played in the NFL arena, I’m no different than who they are and I want to leave them with the more that you speak the more that you free yourself,” said Smith in a social media video after the hearing. This hearing comes as the latest CDC data shows suicide rates among black children, teens, and young adults (10-24 years old) increased by 36 percent between 2018-2021. “A disproportionate number of African American men...