Resiliency is part of Americans’ DNA, but life events are impacting African American males and teens greatly. The Congressional Black Caucus in response to the rising rate of suicide among teens of color wrote a report entitled Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America – Read Report https://theactionalliance.org/sites/default/files/ring_the_alarm-_the_crisis_of_black_youth_suicide_in_america_copy.pdf
What is Going On?
There is an emergency that requires all to help. This is a time where a hello, a listening ear, and a hand up could help. According to a Forbes.com article, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of Minority Health found that although Whites continue to have higher rates of suicide, in 2019, suicide was the leading cause of death among Blacks between 15 and 24 years of age. [1]
Mental Health
Having a mental illness significantly increases suicide risk among Black teens and adults. Although depression must be addressed, the strongest mental health predictor of attempted suicide in this population is anxiety.
HOW TO HELP
Prevention efforts should help enhance the existing psychological resources that help to buffer Black people against suicide risk and help protect them from sources of vulnerability. For example, Blacks who are socially connected through organized religious affiliation have a lower suicide risk.[2]
A GATHERING TO CREATE AN ACTION PLAN TO HELP
On September 24, 2022, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers (BFNC) and the Erie County Coalition will host Soul Shop™ for Black Churches.
Soul Shop™ for Black Churches is a one-day workshop designed for clergy, staff, lay pastors, and faith-based clinicians in the Black Church. Soul Shop provides training to help clergy leaders work with community members impacted by trauma and struggling with mental illness that may place them at risk for suicide.
DETAILS AND REGISTRATION:
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2022
Time: 9:00am – 4:30pm
Location: Ephesus Ministries Fellowship Hall
80 Durham Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. If you have any dietary restrictions, please contact trollek@afsp.org.
To Register: Contact Tiffany Rollek
Email: trollek@afsp.org
Phone: 585-202-2783
TO REGISTER and Learn MORE: https://wnysoulshop.attendease.com/
INTERESTED IN READING MORE?
State of Mental Health for Youth of Color 2022
Presented by The AAKOMO Project
https://aakomaproject.org/SOMHYOC2022/
Why Are More Black Americans Committing Suicide?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/maiahoskin/2022/05/27/why-are-more-black-americans-committing-suicide/?sh=208244e01224
Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America
https://theactionalliance.org/sites/default/files/ring_the_alarm-_the_crisis_of_black_youth_suicide_in_america_copy.pdf
African American Youth Suicide: Report to Congress
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/…Sep 30, 2021 · (CBC) Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health, “Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Suicide in America.” Consistent with the CBC report, the present report uses the term Black to include not only “African Americans but also individuals from the continent of Africa, the Caribbean, and
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/health/topics/suicide-prevention/african_american_youth_suicide-report_to_congress.pdf
Suicide rate rising fast for black youth, report finds
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/suicide-rate…
Dec 19, 2019 · The 38-page report, Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America, was conducted by a task force of the Congressional Black Caucus and found a sharp rise in the rate of suicides and …
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/suicide-rate-rising-fast-black-youth-report-finds-n1103956
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[1] Why Are More Black Americans Committing Suicide?
Hoskin, Maia Niguel (2022) Why Are More Black Americans Committing Suicide?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/maiahoskin/2022/05/27/why-are-more-black-americans-committing-suicide/?sh=208244e01224
[2] Chatters, L. C., Taylor, R., Lincoln, K., Nguyen, A., & Joe, S. (2011). Church-based social support and suicidality among African Americans and Black Caribbeans. Archives of Suicide Research, 15(4), 337–353.