Young black men experience disproportionately higher levels of mental health challenges due to their exposure to a greater frequency and severity of psychosocial stressors compared to other young men. Studies have chronicled the poor health outcomes of black men as a result of:

 

• racial discrimination

• negative attitudes toward the justice system

• racial and cultural identity

• depression

• violence

• and masculine gender norms.

 

Yet, the mental health challenges among young black men have largely been left out of national discussions about this segment of the population and concerns about violence. These mental health challenges are not always discussed in the black community itself, making them difficult to address.