Desmond Carter's 'Mental Health Is Real Wealth' group provides a vital safe space in Los Angeles for Black men to address their mental health, combat rising suicide rates, and navigate unique societal pressures, offering a crucial platform for vulnerability and support.
Desmond Carter, founder of Mental Health Is Real Wealth, is on a mission to save the lives of Black men by leading a bi-monthly mental health group in Los Angeles’ Leimert Park. This unique gathering of Black men, free from external pressures and women, fosters an environment of vulnerability and mutual support. Carter, 37, was inspired to create this space after his best friend died by suicide following a schizophrenic depression diagnosis, observing that many Black men hide their struggles despite appearing 'fly, cool, fresh.' The group addresses a critical need, as suicide rates among Black boys and men have increased by 25.3% in recent years, making it the third leading cause of death for Black male adolescents and young adults. Black men face significant barriers to mental health support, including limited healthy spaces for emotional expression, a reluctance to seek help, and a higher likelihood of receiving substandard, culturally incompetent care rooted in racist health disparities. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated loneliness, yet the mental health of Black men remains an under-researched area. Psychologist Lance Lenford notes an identity crisis among Gen X and millennial Black men, struggling to reconcile societal expectations with personal realities, particularly when financial and parenthood pressures arise. Older Black men also grapple with identity shifts related to retirement. Beyond general patriarchal pressures, Black men in Carter's group specifically highlight societal demands to act tough, strong, and suppress emotions. These challenges are compounded by economic, healthcare, and educational disparities, systemic racism, and social injustice, leading to a rise in 'deaths of despair' among Black people. Wayne Bennett, president of Mental Health Is Wealth and a co-moderator, emphasizes the group's role as a safe space for men to 'break generational cycles' and foster emotional expression, serving as a 'gateway to therapy.' Carter founded the group in 2022 as a preventive measure, aiming to provide a healing space where Black men can not only 'dump' their burdens but also 'celebrate wins,' fostering trust and support in a region with a complex history of police brutality and incarceration.