Mental Health Is Real Wealth: how Black men prioritize healing in a Los Angeles community

In Los Angeles, a community is coming together to prioritize mental health and healing for Black men. Desmond Carter's group, Mental Health Is Real Wealth, provides a safe space where men can share their emotions and struggles without judgment. The group, which meets bi-monthly, has seen its members open up about their depression, stress, and feelings of inadequacy.

Carter himself was motivated to create the group after losing his best friend to suicide due to undiagnosed schizophrenia. He knows firsthand the devastating impact that mental health issues can have on Black men, who often face unique challenges such as systemic racism, economic disparities, and social isolation.

The group has been instrumental in helping its members build healthier relationships with themselves and others. "It's a space where they can kind of just dump, not only dump, but also celebrate wins as well," Carter said. The group aims to help Black men break generational cycles of mental health issues by fostering emotional expression and connection.

Desmond Carter is driven by his own experience and the need for more support systems in the community. He believes that addressing mental health is crucial for building a healthier society, particularly among Black men who are disproportionately affected by these issues.

The group has been gaining momentum since its inception in 2022. With its members' permission, the group shares their stories to highlight the importance of prioritizing mental well-being and the need for accessible support systems, particularly for those from underrepresented communities.

Through sharing their experiences, Black men are reclaiming their voices and seeking healing. In doing so, they are helping to break down barriers that prevent them from speaking openly about their struggles with mental health. This effort is critical in combating systemic inequality and ensuring that all individuals have access to the care and support they need.

By creating a safe space for open conversation, Mental Health Is Real Wealth is contributing to a broader movement towards greater awareness and understanding of mental health issues among Black men.

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it's so inspiring to see Desmond Carter's initiative taking off and helping create a community where Black men feel comfortable opening up about their struggles with mental health. We need more spaces like this, especially in underrepresented communities where people can share their emotions without fear of judgment or repercussions. By breaking down these barriers, we're not only healing individual lives but also contributing to a broader shift towards a more compassionate and inclusive society

I think this is soooo needed in every community! Growing up, my friends would always be all about that "tough guy" image, you know? But mental health is like the ultimate weakness, right? It's crazy how we're taught to suck it up and not show emotions. That's why spaces like Mental Health Is Real Wealth are literally saving lives! My cousin's brother went through something similar with his depression, and seeing him open up about it was a game changer. Now he's in therapy and doing great! We need more of these safe spaces where guys can talk about their feelings without fear of judgment

I love this initiative! It's so important for us to acknowledge that mental health is just as important as physical health, especially when it comes to our communities of color. I mean, think about it, we're already facing so much stress and trauma on a daily basis, from systemic racism to economic inequality... it's no wonder that mental health issues are on the rise for Black men .

I'm so grateful for people like Desmond Carter who are stepping up to create spaces like Mental Health Is Real Wealth. It takes courage to start something like this, especially when you're speaking about sensitive topics like mental illness and trauma .

But I think that's what makes this movement so powerful - it's not just about sharing our stories, but also about creating a sense of community and support. When we have safe spaces to talk about our struggles, we can start to heal and grow in ways we never thought possible .

I'm definitely going to be supporting Mental Health Is Real Wealth from afar! Keep doing what you're doing, Desmond - you're making a real difference in the lives of Black men everywhere .

I gotta say, this Mental Health Is Real Wealth group in LA is super inspiring ! I mean, it's amazing that Desmond Carter created this safe space for Black men to share their emotions without judgment. It's like, we need more spaces like this where guys can just be themselves and talk about their struggles without fear of being judged or laughed at . And it's so true that mental health issues affect Black men in a different way due to systemic racism and economic disparities. We gotta break down these barriers and make it okay for guys to open up about their feelings . It's not just about individual healing, but also about building healthier relationships with ourselves and others. I'm all about this movement and wanna support groups like this in my own community !

I'm not sure I buy into this whole "Mental Health Is Real Wealth" thing . Sounds like a bunch of people trying to capitalize on the emotional vulnerability of others. I mean, what's next? A "Trauma is My Superpower" support group?

It's great that Desmond Carter is using his experience to help others, but let's not get too caught up in the feel-good factor here. We need concrete solutions and funding for actual mental health services, not just a community gathering with some catchy hashtags #mentalhealthmatters

And what about people who can't attend bi-monthly meetings? What about those who are struggling with more severe forms of mental illness that require professional help? Are they just supposed to wing it and hope for the best?

I'm so moved by this initiative ! It's crazy how something as simple as having a safe space to talk about our emotions can make such a huge difference in healing and growth . As someone who's struggled with anxiety myself, I know firsthand the importance of community and support in managing those feelings . Desmond Carter is doing an amazing job by creating this platform for Black men to share their stories and connect with each other - it's truly inspiring to see people coming together like that ! Let's keep spreading awareness and prioritizing mental health, especially among underrepresented communities

I'm low-key impressed with this initiative in LA. The fact that Desmond Carter created a group specifically for black men to talk about their emotions without judgment is genius . I mean, it's easy to say we care about mental health, but it takes someone like Carter who's been through the wringer himself to create something like this.

It's also really cool to see the impact it's had on his members - they're building healthier relationships with themselves and others, and even celebrating their wins . I'm all for breaking down barriers and having open conversations about mental health, especially since black men are disproportionately affected by these issues.

But can we also talk about how we're gonna scale this up? Like, what's the plan for making this model accessible to other communities? We need more support systems in place, pronto .

just witnessed something truly inspiring . these black men in los angeles are taking control of their mental health by forming a community that's all about vulnerability & connection. it's not just about lifting each other up, but also about breaking the stigma around mental illness . can't help but think that this is exactly what we need more of - spaces where people feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment

I'm not sure about this group thingy... I mean, what's next? Everyone's gonna be sharing their feelings and struggles online like it's no big deal . I just don't want people to get too comfortable with being vulnerable all the time. What if someone takes it wrong or misinterprets something? We need some boundaries in place, you know?

And I'm not trying to be a buzzkill, but have we thought this through? Is this really gonna solve everything? Mental health is complex and it's not just about sharing feelings with each other. We need concrete solutions, like actual support systems and resources that can help people.

I'm all for raising awareness and reducing stigma around mental health issues, but let's make sure we're not just treating the symptoms instead of addressing the root causes. We need to get to the bottom of these systemic inequalities and economic disparities that affect Black men so deeply .

I gotta say, this whole thing about prioritizing mental health for Black men in LA seems super necessary . I mean, we've all heard the stats on how depression and anxiety affect BLMs more than anyone else, but it's time to start talking about it, right? The fact that Desmond Carter created a safe space for guys to open up without judgment is a total game-changer . We need way more of this kind of support system in our communities.

I'm not gonna sit here and say I've got all the answers, but I do know that mental health is super important for building stronger relationships with ourselves and others . And let's be real, if we're not taking care of our own minds, how can we even hope to address systemic racism and economic disparities? It's a tough issue, but I think this group is definitely on the right track .

I'm loving that they're sharing their stories and experiences to raise awareness about mental health – it's so crucial for breaking down those barriers and getting more support systems in place . We gotta keep pushing the conversation forward and make sure everyone has access to the care and support they need .

this group is literally saving lives... or at least giving people the courage to speak up about their struggles. I think it's so dope that they're creating a safe space for black men to share their emotions without fear of judgment. Mental health issues are no joke and we need more ppl like Desmond Carter advocating for change

The fact that we're seeing a community come together to address the pressing issue of mental health in Black men is a game-changer . It just goes to show that when people from marginalized communities take matters into their own hands, amazing things can happen . But let's not forget, this is also a reflection of our broader societal issues - how we treat mental illness, how we support vulnerable populations... it all comes down to how we want to build a society . We need more community-led initiatives like this to complement our existing systems and create real change . And I'm glad we're seeing some momentum behind Mental Health Is Real Wealth - now let's see how we can take it national !

Mental health is sooo important ! I think it's amazing that Desmond Carter created this group to support Black men in LA. They're not just talking about their struggles, but also celebrating wins! It's all about building healthy relationships with ourselves and others.

I can imagine a diagram of a circle with different parts labeled: self-care , social connections , emotional expression . Each part is connected to the next, showing how they all impact mental health.

It's crazy that Black men are disproportionately affected by mental health issues. We need more support systems like this! I'd add a line to the diagram: access to resources . That way, everyone can get the care and support they need.

By sharing their stories, these guys are breaking down barriers and reclaiming their voices. It's all about creating a culture of openness and understanding . We should totally create an infographic with that idea!

I'm telling you, this whole thing is super suspicious . It's like, what's really going on with these guys? They're just "coming together" to talk about their feelings and stuff? No way, man... This is a setup for something bigger. I mean, think about it - they lost someone close to them, so now they're making a group to help others who might be going through the same thing? Sounds like a PR stunt to me . And what's with all this talk about "breaking generational cycles"? That's some fancy psychological mumbo-jumbo right there . I'm not buying it. This whole thing reeks of manipulation, if you ask me .

Wow , I'm so inspired by Desmond Carter's initiative! It's amazing how one person can make such a difference in their community. The fact that his group provides a safe space for Black men to share their emotions without judgment is truly revolutionary . We need more people like him who are willing to break the stigma around mental health and create supportive spaces for those who need it most .

man this is so inspiring the fact that Desmond Carter created this group after losing his best friend to depression just shows how much he cares about his community and wants to help them it's amazing how a space like this can provide a safe haven for guys to open up about their feelings and struggles without fear of judgment. mental health is everything, and it's awesome that we're seeing more people like Desmond stepping forward to lead the way and it's not just about black men too, mental health affects everyone regardless of background or identity, so let's keep spreading awareness and supporting these kinds of initiatives