T-Kea Blackman survived a suicide attempt and has since dedicated her life to breaking the silence around suicide in the Black community. Through her nonprofit, Black People Die By Suicide Too, she creates spaces for healing, conversation and support.
Category: Mental Health
Posted inReligion
Soul Shop for Black Churches equips faith leaders to address suicide in their congregations
Soul Shop for Black Churches is equipping faith leaders to address suicide and trauma in Black communities, providing training that combines mental health expertise with pastoral care. The program empowers congregations to have open conversations, reduce stigma and offer hope to those in desperate situations
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Addressing family toxicity: How to move forward after trauma
Healing from family trauma starts with breaking cycles of secrecy, shame and emotional suppression. Life coach Nijiama Smalls urges open conversations, setting boundaries, and—even when needed—creating distance to protect peace and begin true healing.
Posted inMental Health
Hotline guide: Where to turn when you’re in crisis
Specialized suicide prevention resources tailored to men, women, LGBTQ+ individuals and youth are making mental health support more accessible. With insight from longtime crisis counselor Tina Field, this guide highlights key national hotlines and tips from organizations helping to save lives through empathy and connection.
Posted inHealth
‘I’m important too’: The role of self-care in postpartum healing
Postpartum recovery isn’t about going back to who you were before motherhood—it’s about rediscovering yourself through intentional self-care. In this article, a mother and a doula share honest reflections on how rest, movement, boundaries, and self-compassion shape healing after birth.
Posted inMental Health
Family counseling: A look at how mental health professionals are healing generational trauma
By Mekhi AbbottSpecial to the AFROmabbott@afro.com Therapists are emphasizing the importance of family therapy in order to address the generational trauma that exists in the family tree. Black families specifically can benefit through group therapy given the history of complicated dynamics that may be present in certain households. “Family counseling is very important because it […]
Posted inCommentary
Where’s the class for grief? Why schools must make healing mandatoryÂ
By Kanika Cousine In March 2025, 16-year-old Sincere Jazmin was fatally shot while seated at a bus stop in Jamaica, Queens, after stepping off his school bus. According to the New York Post, he ran into a nearby deli before collapsing and dying on-site. Just days later, a 16-year-old student at Lansdowne High School in […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Tuskegee University mourns sudden death of student-athlete
Tuskegee University is grieving the death of junior mechanical engineering student and Golden Tiger baseball player Macahri Washington-Parker, remembered by peers and faculty as a dedicated leader and mentor. His passing, amid broader concerns about suicide among Black youth, has prompted an outpouring of support from the campus community and his family, who celebrate his lasting impact on those he touched.
Posted inWord In Black
Youth activism: The crucial role of family support
Young changemakers are leading movements for climate action, gun violence prevention and equal representation—supported by families who help them heal, organize and sustain their activism.
Posted inHealth
Black disability advocates who helped shape civil rights
Black history and disability rights history are more connected than many realize, thanks to leaders like Brad Lomax and Lois Curtis. Their advocacy forged pathways for justice where race and disability intersect.
Posted inWord In Black
Why gunshot injuries disrupt manhood for Black men
A new Rutgers study reveals that Black men disabled by gun violence often struggle with a loss of independence, identity, and their perceived ability to fulfill traditional roles of manhood. Many survivors feel like burdens to their families and experience emotional and psychological distress as they navigate life-altering physical and mental health challenges.
Posted inBaltimore News
Dr. Toni Boulware Stackhouse highlights National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the stark disparities in mental health care access and outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities in the US, and Life Matters Wellness is taking action to provide culturally competent care and reduce barriers to access.