HEALTH & WELLNESS
My Dear Brother, Are You Okay? By Dr. Hernando Carter
B rother, are you okay? This is a simple yet meaningful question. Are we okay as a fraternity? This is a question that brothers have struggled with individually. It is now time for us to investigate this question collectively. It has been said that the fraternity is a microcosm of our broader community.
I agree with that assertion. If we reflect on the state of the mental and physical health of Black people in America, the answer to the question, “Are we okay?” Is no. According to the National Institutes of Health, the Black commu- nity is disproportionately affected by mental illness, including depression. In
the Black community, the impact of depression results in a greater sever- ity of illness and a higher chronicity of disease. It is also observed that there is a lower rate of treatment for mental illness in the Black community when compared to Whites. The reasons for this are multiple, but they include a stigma
surrounding mental health in the Black community and challenges with access- ing culturally competent, affordable care. Each of us within the fraternity has been impacted by this. We each have known Brothers who struggle with depres- sion, anxiety, substance dependence, psychosis, and even suicidality.
12 THE JOURNAL ♦ FALL 2023
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