Breaking the Silence: Suicide in Our Community
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (U.S.) to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or use your local emergency number. You are not alone.
For too long, we’ve been told that suicide “don’t happen in our community.” But the truth is, Black youth and young adults are facing rising rates of suicide. Behind every number is somebody’s child, sibling, friend, or parent, somebody we love..carrying pain in silence.
When we don’t talk about it, the suffering grows. When we speak up, we create space for healing.
In our culture, we pride ourselves on being strong, leaning on faith, and holding our families together. But that same strength can sometimes keep us quiet. Add in the mistrust many of us feel toward healthcare systems, and it makes reaching out even harder.
Prayer and spirituality are powerful and needed. But so is being real about our struggles, leaning on safe conversations, supportive relationships, and mental health care that truly sees us.
Pay attention to:
Talking about wanting to die or feeling hopeless
Pulling away from family, friends, or things they used to enjoy
Sudden mood swings
Using more alcohol or drugs
If you notice these signs, don’t be afraid to ask: “Are you thinking about suicide?” That question won’t put the thought in their head. It can open the door for honesty, support, and hope.
Our healing starts where we gather—barbershops, beauty salons, churches, schools, block parties, community centers. These are more than spaces; they’re lifelines.
Organizations like The Steve Fund and Black Mental Health Alliance are doing the work, but real change also starts at home. It’s us checking in, saying, “How you really doing?” and meaning it. Every conversation matters.
Check in: Ask your people how they’re really feeling.
Share resources: Don’t keep the lifelines to yourself.
Normalize mental health: Talking about it makes it less taboo.
Support Black-led organizations: They bring care that’s rooted in our culture.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Call or text 988 anytime
The Steve Fund: stevefund.org
Black Mental Health Alliance: blackmentalhealth.com
SAMHSA: samhsa.gov
