Brothers Who Care presents “Making Mental Health a Global Priority!” Exploring the mental health stigma on a global scale

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

LifeWorks and Seaford Pharmaceuticals in association with Brothers Who Care (BWC) present “Making Mental Health a Global Priority,” the fall launch of the popular Mental Health Hour, a series focused on working as a community to dismantle mental health stigmas and addressing the rising mental health issues within the Black community.

With September being Suicide Prevention Month, and October 10^th, 2022, being World Mental Health Day, BWC is raising awareness in the global community about the critical mental health challenges that are being faced by Black communities across the globe. Black communities are facing record rates of mental health struggles that can be attributed to: pandemic-related stresses, and on-going systemic racism. Many aspects of mental health have been challenged; and in 2019 an estimated one in eight people globally were living with a mental disorder.

Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic. At the same time, mental health services have been severely disrupted and the treatment gap for mental health conditions has widened. With a unifying voice through collaboration with various partners, and thought-provoking speakers, BWC has taken action to create lasting change when it comes to improving mental health in the Black community.

Brothers Who Care is working closely with LifeWorks and Seaford Pharmaceuticals, who both support and empower people at the most critical moments in their lives. LifeWorks aims to improve communities and make a real difference in the world. Their proactive mental health solutions are designed to be accessible to employees from wherever they are. Seaford Pharmaceuticals is a proud Canadian company founded in 1991 by the Seales family. Since then, they have been dedicated to developing and marketing specialty healthcare solutions to Canadians and abroad.

Brothers Who Care, a registered Canadian Non-Profit, is committed to changing the social, financial and psychological health of the Black community through stories, images and engagement. Their quarterly events leverage the power of collective fundraising to support charities whose work impacts key issues affecting the Black community.

“Establishing meaningful connections with others is a valuable tool to improve well-being and mitigate stress,” shares David Griffiths, Founder of Brothers Who Care. “This is important for Black men because of the stigma that mental health has in the Black community. This stigma can create hesitancy in talking about mental health, and emotional experiences, which can result in isolation and suffering in silence. When people feel like they can talk about what they’re dealing with without judgment, it opens avenues to seek care and support.”

The much-anticipated fall launch of the Mental Health Hour will be held on Thursday, September 29^th, 2022, at 6:00 pm EST! BWC has invited renowned singing sensation Jully Black, and inspirational speaker and coach Kwame Osei, to discuss community-based care techniques that can and will be beneficial in overcoming the barriers that the global Black communities face when it comes to mental health. Both Jully and Kwame are aware of the importance in addressing these issues, practicing self-care, seeking professional help if possible, and opening avenues of communication within the community.

This FREE event will be streamed on the BWC: YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn pages. This is an hour that you will not want to miss! Join us as we celebrate awareness for the global community, unify voices, and help people feel hopeful by empowering them to take action and create lasting change in their lives.