Listening to the Voices That Know

As we mark Mental Health Month, it is time to shift the spotlight toward a group often overlooked in mainstream conversations, Black and South Asian men.

The pandemic did not just expose health inequalities, it deepened emotional fault lines that have long existed beneath the surface. From the UK to the USA and across the Caribbean, these men are navigating a complex terrain of trauma, silence and cultural expectations that shape how they experience and express mental health.

While statistics tell us that Black and South Asian men are more likely to suffer psychological distress and less likely to access care, the real story lies in what Black academics and practitioners are saying.

These voices, grounded in lived experience, research and community work, are challenging the status quo and calling for culturally intelligent, emotionally honest and systemically aware approaches to healing.

They are asking “what does mental health look like when masculinity, race and culture collide?” More importantly, “how do we build spaces where these men can be seen, heard and supported?”

Let us not forget, while data paints a stark picture of mental health disparities among Black and South Asian men, it is the voices of those working on the ground, academics, clinicians and community advocates, that reveal the deeper story.

These experts are not only identifying the gaps in care and cultural understanding, but also challenging the systems that perpetuate silence, stigma and exclusion. Their insights offer a roadmap for healing that goes beyond awareness campaigns and into the realm of culturally intelligent, emotionally honest and community-rooted solutions.

Here is what they are saying and why it matters.

1.    Elevated Psychological Distress

Black and South Asian men in both the UK and USA have experienced significantly higher levels of psychological distress during and after the COVID-19 pandemic compared to their White counterparts. This includes increased rates of anxiety, depression and trauma-related symptoms. The pandemic did not just expose existing disparities, it intensified them.

For Black men in the USA, the emotional toll was compounded by high-profile racial injustices, such as the murder of George Floyd, which triggered widespread grief, anger and mental health decline. South Asian men, meanwhile, faced a surge in anti-Asian violence and discrimination, adding layers of fear and isolation to an already challenging period.

In the UK, studies show that Black and South Asian men reported greater deterioration in mental health, even when socioeconomic factors were accounted for. These findings highlight a pressing need for culturally responsive mental health support that acknowledges the unique stressors faced by men of colour in a post-pandemic world.

2. Under-diagnosis and Limited Access to Culturally Competent Care

Despite experiencing high levels of psychological distress, Black and South Asian men are consistently under diagnosed and underserved in mental health systems across the UK and USA.

Studies show that these men are significantly less likely to receive formal diagnoses or access treatment compared to White men. In the USA, for example, while 50% of White adults receive mental health services, only 39% of Black adults and 55% of Asian adults do, many citing difficulty in finding providers who understand their cultural background. This lack of culturally competent care contributes to mistrust, disengagement and delayed intervention.

In the UK, the disparities are even more stark. Black Caribbean men are 3.5 times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act, often through police or emergency services rather than community-based support. These statistics reflect a system that too often responds to crisis rather than prevention and one that fails to meet the cultural and emotional needs of men of colour.

3. Cultural Stigma and Silence

Mental health remains a deeply stigmatised topic in many Black and South Asian communities, particularly among men.

In South Asian cultures, psychological distress is often viewed through a lens of personal weakness or spiritual failing, which discourages open discussion and professional help-seeking. This silence is especially pronounced among men, who are expected to uphold family honour and emotional resilience. Similarly, Black men frequently face societal expectations around masculinity that discourage vulnerability and emotional expression.

The result is a pattern of internalised distress, untreated trauma and delayed intervention. In the Caribbean, while data is more limited, studies show that African-Caribbean men are disproportionately represented in psychiatric services, often entering the system through emergency or police contact rather than voluntary care.

These patterns reflect a broader cultural narrative that equates strength with silence, leaving many men to suffer in isolation and pushing mental health crises into the shadows.

4. Discrimination and Minority Stress

Racial discrimination remains a major driver of poor mental health outcomes for Black and South Asian men across the UK, USA and the Caribbean. These men consistently report higher levels of perceived racial bias, which correlates with increased anxiety, depression and reduced life satisfaction.

In both the UK and USA, Black men face heightened exposure to systemic discrimination in education, employment, healthcare and policing, stressors that compound emotional distress and erode trust in mental health services. South Asian men, particularly post-COVID, have also reported increased racial profiling and xenophobia, contributing to feelings of isolation and fear.

In the Caribbean, while data is more limited, studies show that African-Caribbean men are disproportionately represented in psychiatric services, often entering through coercive pathways such as police or emergency intervention rather than voluntary care.

These patterns reflect a broader issue. Mental health systems often respond to crisis rather than prevention and rarely account for the cumulative impact of racial trauma and minority stress on men of colour.

5. Lack of Representation and Trust in Services

A persistent barrier to mental health support for Black and South Asian men is the deep-rooted lack of trust in services. Many cite past experiences of racism, misdiagnosis and a general lack of empathy from providers who fail to understand their cultural context.

This mistrust is compounded by the reality that these men are less likely to receive mental health services and more likely to report that practitioners do not reflect or respect their lived experiences. In the UK, this disconnect is starkly illustrated by the fact that Black Caribbean men are 3.5 times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act, often through coercive pathways such as police or emergency intervention, rather than through community-based care.

While initiatives like the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) aim to address these disparities by embedding race equity into mental health services, uptake and impact remain inconsistent. Without meaningful representation and culturally competent care, many men of colour continue to suffer in silence, reinforcing cycles of disengagement and crisis-led intervention.

What Are the Academics and Practitioners Saying

Across the UK, USA and Caribbean, Black academics and mental health practitioners are raising urgent concerns about the emotional toll of post-COVID life on Black and South Asian men. The consensus is clear. While the pandemic exposed widespread mental health vulnerabilities, it also deepened long-standing racial and cultural disparities in how men experience, express and access support for psychological distress.

Dr. Arthur C. Evans Jr., CEO of the American Psychological Association, has called for a radical shift toward community-based, culturally sensitive mental health interventions. He argues that traditional models of care often fail Black men by ignoring the social and racial stressors that shape their lived experiences. This includes systemic racism, economic instability and the pressure to perform masculinity without vulnerability.

In the UK, researchers and clinicians have highlighted the over representation of Black Caribbean men in psychiatric detention, often through coercive pathways like police intervention rather than voluntary care. This reflects a broader mistrust of mental health services, rooted in historical misdiagnosis and lack of cultural competence. Practitioners are advocating for frameworks like the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) to address these disparities, though uptake remains uneven.

The YBMen Project at the University of Michigan is pioneering a gender and race informed approach to mental health for young Black men. Their work explores how masculinity, identity and social media shape emotional wellbeing and they’ve found that culturally tailored peer support can significantly reduce stigma and improve outcomes.

Meanwhile, advocates like Kevin Berthia, a suicide survivor and speaker, are pushing for safe spaces and action plans that allow Black men to speak openly about depression, trauma and suicidal ideation. His message is simple but powerful “we don’t need more awareness. We need more access.”

In faith-based communities, particularly in the Caribbean and among diaspora populations, there is a growing call to move beyond “just pray” responses to mental health. A recent Harvard symposium urged religious leaders to partner with therapists and mental health educators to create holistic healing models that honour both spirituality and science.

Reclaiming Our Mental Health Narrative

The mental health crisis facing Black and South Asian men is not new, but it is urgent. From elevated psychological distress to systemic under diagnosis, from cultural stigma to a lack of trust in services, the challenges are layered and deeply rooted. Yet, the voices of Black academics and practitioners remind us that healing is possible, when it is culturally informed, community-led and emotionally honest.

Mental Health Month is more than a campaign. It is a call to action. A moment to listen, learn and lead with empathy. Whether you're a practitioner, a partner, a brother or a friend, your role in this conversation matters.

Let us break the silence. Let us build trust. Let us create spaces where our men can be seen, heard and supported, not just in crisis, but in everyday life.

As we reflect on Mental Health Month, it is clear that the emotional wellbeing of Black and South Asian men deserves more than awareness, it demands action. The data is compelling, but the lived experiences behind it are even more urgent.

For those of us in leadership, enterprise and influence, this is a moment to lean into our values. Equity, empathy and accountability. Whether we are shaping policy, building teams or mentoring the next generation, we have a responsibility to ensure that mental health support is not only accessible but culturally intelligent and inclusive. Let this be the start of a deeper conversation, one that challenges silence, builds trust and redefines care for our communities.

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If this resonates with you, share it. If it inspires you, act on it and if it moves you, make space for others to be heard.

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