Mental Health Is Real Wealth: how Black men prioritize healing ‘in this white world’

In a predominantly male-dominated space, Black men are being encouraged to prioritize their mental health and seek support without fear of judgment or repercussions. A bi-monthly mental health group led by Desmond Carter in Los Angeles' Leimert Park neighborhood has become a safe haven for these men to share their struggles and emotions.

Carter's personal experience with the loss of his best friend to suicide after being diagnosed with schizophrenia serves as a catalyst for his mission. He recognizes that many Black men are struggling with mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies, yet hesitate to seek help due to societal expectations and cultural norms.

The group, which Carter founded in 2022, provides a platform for these men to connect with one another, share their experiences, and develop healthier ways to express emotions. The group's atmosphere is characterized by a sense of camaraderie and trust, as members support and encourage each other in their journey towards healing.

Carter emphasizes the importance of breaking down generational cycles and fostering emotional expression within Black communities. He hopes that his initiative will help men like himself "dump" their emotional burdens and celebrate their wins, ultimately leading to a more authentic and fulfilling life.

As one of the group members notes, many Black men have grown up without adequate leadership or guidance, leaving them to navigate their emotions and challenges on their own. The group serves as a gateway for these men to explore therapy and counseling, acknowledging that mental health support is essential for overall well-being.

The initiative also highlights the significance of trust-building within Black communities. Carter notes that many Black men expect interactions with others to be transactional, career-driven, or aggressive, rather than supportive and empathetic. By creating a safe space for open discussion and emotional expression, the group helps to challenge these societal expectations and promote healthier relationships.

Ultimately, Carter's mental health group represents a crucial step towards addressing the systemic disparities and challenges faced by Black men in Los Angeles. By prioritizing their mental health and well-being, these individuals can break free from the constraints of societal expectations and forge a more authentic path forward.

I'm loving this idea but isn't it crazy that ppl in their 40s still gotta deal with this kind of thing? Like, shouldn't we have figured out how to be supportive of each other by now? And what about the next gen? Are they gonna grow up with even more mental health issues because ppl like Desmond Carter are making it okay for them to talk about their feelings? I mean, I'm all for breaking down those generational cycles but how do we keep this conversation going and make sure it doesn't get swept under the rug again?

omg I was just thinking about how stressed I get when my wifi is out lol anyway back to this mental health group for black men... it sounds like such a great idea! I feel like we need more spaces like that where guys can be vulnerable without fear of being judged or told they're "too tough" I mean, I've seen some vids on social media about mental health and it's crazy how much guys struggle with it but never talk about it... it's like a weight is lifted off their shoulders when they share their feelings and connect with others who get it

This is gonna sound weird but I think it's time we normalize talking about emotions as much as we do about sports or finance . These guys are literally breaking down barriers that have been ingrained in their culture for generations and it's not just about mental health, it's about creating a community where you can be vulnerable without fear of being judged. It's like they're saying "guys, it's okay to cry" . We need more of this kind of conversation going on in our communities, especially among men who have been conditioned to suppress their emotions. I'd love to see more initiatives like this popping up and supporting these guys in their journey towards healing .

I'm so down with this bi-monthly mental health group led by Desmond Carter . It's about time we shed that toxic expectation of being tough all the time and actually talk about our feelings . I mean, I've lost count of how many times I've seen Black men around me struggle in silence, and it's like they're carrying this weight on their shoulders . This group is a breath of fresh air - it's a space where we can be vulnerable without fear of judgment or being labeled as weak . Desmond Carter's story is so inspiring, I love that he's using his personal experience to create something meaningful for others . It's all about breaking down those generational cycles and fostering emotional expression within our communities - I'm here for it !

just thinkin we should have more spaces like this everywhere for guys to be vulnerable without feelin judged or pressure to be tough all the time it's crazy how many black men struggle with mental health but keep it on the down low 'cause of what society thinks they gotta do Carter's group is literally a breath of fresh air and I'm so here for it

man... its crazy how far we've come in just a few years 2022 feels like ancient history now lol I mean Desmond Carter's initiative is giving me hope for the future tho the way he's breaking down barriers and creating a safe space for black men to talk about their emotions is just what we need more of and its dope that it's becoming a thing in leimert park neighborhood where culture is always thriving

I think it's amazing that Desmond Carter is creating a space for Black men to talk openly about their mental health struggles without fear of judgment . Growing up, many guys in his community were expected to toughen up and not show emotions , but now they're finally being encouraged to be vulnerable and seek help when they need it . It's so important for us to break down those cultural norms and create a more supportive environment for men (and everyone!) to prioritize their mental well-being . Carter's initiative is a game-changer for these guys, and I'm sure it'll make a huge difference in their lives .

I gotta say, I'm loving this initiative by Desmond Carter . It's crazy how many black men struggle with mental health issues without being able to talk about it or get help. Like, we're already expected to be these tough guys all the time, and then you expect us to keep our emotions bottled up? No way, fam! We need spaces like this where we can just be ourselves, share our struggles, and support each other without fear of judgment.

And I love how Carter's experience with loss is fueling his mission. It's real talk, you know? Losing a friend to schizophrenia was devastating, but it also made him realize the importance of breaking down those generational cycles and fostering emotional expression in our communities.

This group is more than just a mental health space, though - it's a community building thing too. It's helping black men connect with each other, find healthy ways to express their emotions, and build trust within themselves. I'm all about it! We need more of this kind of love and support in our lives.

I also appreciate how Carter is challenging those societal expectations that tell us we gotta be tough or aggressive all the time. Like, what's wrong with being emotional or vulnerable? It's time for black men to redefine what it means to be strong and powerful.

lol @ all the guys who are still trying to tough it out like that's an option . i mean, mentally? yeah good luck with that. desmond carter is a total hero for creating this safe space, tbh . i love how he's trying to break down those generational cycles of toxic masculinity - it's about time someone did . and can we just say that mental health support is NOT an option? like, have you seen the stats on black men and mental health? it's a crisis . anyway, kudos to carter for trying to change the game . now let's get some more guys involved and maybe, just maybe, we can create some real change .

I think its super important 4 us 2 talk about mental health, esp since its not just 1 issue but a big part of everythins life ! Like, im all 4 Desmond Carter & his team 4 startin this convo & creatin a safe space 4 Black men 2 share their feelings. We gotta break the stigma around talkin about mental health & let people know its okay 2 not be ok . Its amazing how much of a diffrence this group can make in peoples lives, especially when it comes 2 challenging societal expectations & generational cycles

OMG this is like so amazing!!! I'm literally getting all the feels watching Black men support each other about their mental health it's crazy how much shame there was around talking about these things, but now we're seeing growth and community Carter's story is so inspiring, and I love that he's not just talking about breaking down barriers, he's actually doing it the fact that these men can share their emotions without fear of judgment is like, totally life-changing can you imagine being part of a group where you feel seen and heard? this initiative is like, the real MVP

I think it's awesome that Desmond Carter created this space for black men to talk about their feelings without being judged. Mental health is super important, especially when you're dealing with stuff like racism and expectation to be strong all the time. It's not easy for them to open up, but once they do, it can really change lives I wish more communities had something like this, where people can just be themselves without fear of rejection or judgment

I'm thinking about Desmond Carter's story and I'm genuinely moved . It's crazy how one person's loss could spark such an amazing initiative. I feel like we need more spaces like this, where guys can just be themselves without fear of judgment . Mental health is so important, especially for Black men who often get expected to be strong and not show emotions. It's like they're carrying around a weight that's invisible to everyone else, but it's really real . I hope more people start talking about this stuff and we can create a culture where guys feel comfortable opening up about their feelings .

omg can u believe black men are being encouraged to talk about their feelings like its 2025 and we're finally getting it right meanwhile i was over here stressing about which meme to post on insta anyway, its awesome that desmond carter is leading the charge on mental health awareness in leimert park. gotta love how he's breaking down barriers for his fellow black men to share their emotions without fear of judgment...its like finally a space where they can just be themselves and not have to worry about getting "acted up" btw, i think its so cool that the group is helping these guys explore therapy and counseling...we need more of this in our lives

I think it's amazing how Desmond Carter is leading this initiative to help black men talk about their mental health without fear of judgment . It's like, we need more spaces for these guys to just be vulnerable and share their emotions without being seen as weak . The fact that he's doing this in a male-dominated space makes it even more impressive . We need more leaders like him who are willing to break down barriers and create safe spaces for people to express themselves freely . It's time we started valuing mental health just as much as physical health .

This is so sick! I mean, like, it's about time we have spaces where guys can be vulnerable without being judged or labeled as "weak". Mental health struggles are real, and they're not just for women or the "emotional" crowd. Black men in particular have been socialized to toughen up and deal with their emotions alone, which is literally toxic.

I love that Desmond Carter is doing this and making it a safe space for guys to connect and support each other. It's all about breaking down those generational cycles of silence and stigma around mental health. And I'm totally here for the camaraderie and trust-building vibes – we need more of that in our communities!

This initiative is so important for our guys who are carrying the weight alone . Mental health support shouldn't be stigmatized, it's just taking care of yourself . We need more safe spaces like this where they can open up without fear . It's not about being weak, it's about being strong enough to ask for help .

I'm loving this initiative! It's so needed in our communities . I mean, think about it, we're always told to be strong, tough, and independent, but what happens when that doesn't work out? We need spaces like Desmond Carter's group where guys can just be themselves, no judgments, no expectations . And you know what's crazy, we're actually doing this in a male-dominated space! It's about time we start breaking down those barriers . I'm all for it, let's keep pushing and creating spaces that support our mental health and well-being .

I mean, it's about time we start talking about mental health, especially for black men . But I'm not sure if this bi-monthly group is the solution to all our problems . I know Desmond Carter's story is heartbreaking, but what about the ones who aren't in Leimert Park? How do they get access to these kinds of resources ? And what about the stigma around mental health that still exists in some black communities? Can we really just 'dump' our emotional burdens without addressing the root causes ? I'm all for people supporting each other, but I think we need more than just a group chat .