Mind, Body & Soul: Combatting John Henryism and Suicidality in African American/Black Men and Boys-View Presentation

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Video Summary

Raul Andrews, executive director of the foundation, highlighted the significant strides of the Mental Health Care Works Campaign, which was initiated in San Francisco to enhance global mental health awareness and literacy. The campaign significantly elevated the visibility of mental health issues, particularly among African American men and boys. It achieved over 240 million audience impressions, well beyond its initial targets.<br /><br />The foundation emphasizes promoting mental health through five pillars: living, learning, working, worshiping, and playing. The initiative was particularly vital in breaking records of community engagement, as prior efforts had not reached significant audience numbers.<br /><br />A mini-campaign within this framework, "My Brother's Keeper," focused on addressing the mental health crises among African American males, with specific attention to suicidality. This initiative emerged amidst rising concerns about the mental health challenges facing this demographic group, where high incidences of mental illness often correlate with community and systemic issues rather than purely personal faults.<br /><br />Raul shared personal anecdotes and discussed John Henryism—a term that embodies the perilous mental and physical consequences of high-effort coping in the face of adversity, much like the legendary figure John Henry who worked himself to death. This narrative underscores the need for sustainable, compassionate community and health initiatives to ensure wellness.<br /><br />To tackle these challenges, the foundation has fostered strong partnerships and community engagement via church-based initiatives and peer support networks. High-level involvement from board-certified specialists across different medical and mental health fields underscores a collaborative approach to nurture and sustain the mental well-being of individuals, particularly those who face societal marginalization and systemic stressors.

Keywords

Mental Health Care Works Campaign

global mental health awareness

African American men

audience impressions

community engagement

My Brother's Keeper

mental health crises

suicidality

John Henryism

sustainable initiatives

church-based initiatives

peer support networks

systemic stressors

Raul Andrews