According to a new scientific report, the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Black and other children of color, leading to higher rates of severe cases, hospitalizations, deaths and many other adverse effects. Compared to white children, Black children died 2.7 times more often, were hospitalized 2.2 times more often and were vaccinated at lower rates than white children. We discuss the devastating effects and give recommendations to improve outcomes, including steps to address access to health care, mental health services and more ..read more

In the United States, only 6% of the 1.5 million faculty in degree-granting postsecondary institutions is Black. The new book, We're Not Ok: Black Faculty Experiences and Higher Education Strategies shares the experiences of Black faculty to take the reader on a journey, from the obstacles of landing a full-time faculty position through the unique struggles of being a Black educator at a predominantly white institution. We talk with the authors and discuss some of those obstacles which can be experienced not only in higher education, but in the workplace as a whole ..read more

Over recent years, mental health has slowly moved out of the shadows. Yay!!!! After centuries of being sidelined, our state of mental well-being is gradually receiving more of the attention that it deserves. However, many myths persist. On this episode we talk with Shelly-Anne Johnson, MSW, LCSW to address the untruths related to our mental well-being ..read more

Every year in the United States, more than 45,000 people take their own lives. Their final act doesn’t need to define their life. From his personal experience Vince and Makeba share ways you can try to navigate the shock, confusion, and despair and begin the healing process. We admonish listeners to try to remember and celebrate the important, joyous aspects of their life and of your relationship together. This Episode and the Black Mental Matters Podcast Series is dedicated to Vince's Dad, Sidney Bailey, Jr. and Brother Theodore "Tony" Bailey. RIP ..read more

While the birth of a child can be a wonderful and joyous time for many women, for some women it is a time of sadness, anxiety, loneliness, and worry that does not go away. In fact, up to 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression, a very real and serious mood disorder. What if we were to tell you that women of color experience postpartum depression at double the rate of the general population? This is because a disproportionate number of women of color are not screened for depression and do not receive the necessary treatment and services. In fact, it is estimated that u ..read more

College can be a stressful time for young people and their parents... When you add COVID, racism, police brutality, and other obstacles, it can become downright frightening and lead our young people into unwanted situations. On this episode we talk with Dr John Dunkle of the JED Foundation. JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. They are partnering with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems, equipping teens and young adults and their fami ..read more

In February of 2000 of Gary, Indiana, Christopher “Chris” Bynum was arrested for 5 counts of murder. He was ultimately falsely convicted on all counts. At Bynum’s sentencing hearing, he spoke directly to the victim’s families– suggesting that, if they truly loved their deceased loved ones, they’d force the police to do their jobs. For Bynum, that was a plea of innocence on his behalf. Bynum was sentenced to 300- years in prison for the crimes he was convicted of. The Christopher Bynum ruling was changed and now set for August 14, 2020. We are trying to get as much media attention as we can bef ..read more

Black Mental Matters Episode #42 Getting Back To Being Black Members of Black America are citizens of the United States of America. Also they are citizens of the states, counties, cities and municipalities in which they reside. Now, during, and after this pandemic and protest period, The Black Community is a society whose culture is ready to be refined and re-defined. This definition or concept is not designed to ignore others in the Americas, but to evolve the strength and power of Blacks as citizens of the United States of America ..read more

"Policing While Black" is a term we've coined due to the prominence of case after case of white police killings of unarmed Black Men, and the resulting clashes between an enraged, pandemic stricken, mentally and physically tired community and Law Enforcement. We talk with Retired Commander and Lt Colonel Leonard Stallworth of the Illinois State Police about the current situation and what strategies can be used to improve outcomes for both the Black Community and Officers of The Law ..read more

“I Can’t Breathe” is echoing across the planet. Black, Brown, Indigenous and lower-wealth communities have disproportionately been the dumping grounds for our country’s deadliest toxic pollutants. These continuing actions have created sacrifice zones, filled with smelters, coal-fired power plants, incinerators, petrochemical facilities and a host of other polluters. We talk with BJ Johnson and Lynn McCray of Ecosneakers.org about what we can do to not only save our planet, but our lives ..read more