8 Books For Unpacking Black Mental Health

The African American experience is unique. The affects of slavery and Jim Crow have impacted us for generations and still rears its head in our mental wellness. Take these statistics from a 2010 study by The Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

• Suicide is the 16th leading cause of death for Blacks of all ages and the third leading cause of death for young Black males ages 15 to 24.
• Black Americans die by suicide a full decade earlier than White Americans. The average age of Black suicide decedents is 32, and that of White decedents is 44.

This research, combined with our unique experience, makes understanding how to address our mental health different from others. Several Black authors have written books to address our mental health. Take time to read and pass along the following books on black mental health.

• Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting by Terrie M. Williams
• Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Angela Degruy
• The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. DuBois
• Black Rage: Two Black Psychiatrists Reveal the Full Dimensions of the Inner Conflicts and the Desperation of Black Life in the United States by William H. Grier and Price M. Cobbs

• Rock My Soul: Black People and Self-Esteem by bell hooks
• Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Fear by Ph.D. Angela Neal-Barnett Ph.D.
• Not Alone: Reflections on Faith and Depression by Monica A Coleman
• Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman’s Journey Through Depression by Meri Nana-Ama Danquah

Click here to read online resources for Black mental health.