Documentary Tackles Black Youth Mental Health

by Daniel Johnson April 28, 2024 The documentary addresses mental health disparities in Denver as advocates call for increased support amid rising Black youth suicide rates. A new documentary directed and produced by Bo Olagbegi is addressing the mental health of Black youth in the Denver area. The documentary, titled “Voices Unheard: Breaking the Silence on Mental Health in the Black Community” was discussed at a panel discussion at the premiere of the film on April 25.  As Westword reports, Olagbegi is impressed by the youth he profiled in the documentary and also called attention to the need to allow young people to tell their own stories about mental health. “It’s about time for us to stop muting them and thinking that they need to be in a child’s place,” Olagbegi said. “Filming this documentary, just hearing how important it was from the youth to really just have someone to talk to and not judge them, classify them, so on and so forth. And for an increase of 78 percent being the largest in our community for youth and suicide…I would hope it is an awakening and a trigger for something to get done.” Jason Shankle, a therapist and CEO...