Black History Month: Strength Isn’t Doing It Alone

A Mental Health & Well-Being Note

As we celebrate Black History Month, here’s a reminder worth repeating: strength isn’t doing it alone. Black history reflects resilience and also community care, support, and healing.

Mental health and substance use challenges can affect anyone. Black communities often face extra barriers to getting support, including stigma, chronic stress, discrimination, and difficulty finding culturally responsive care. If you’ve been carrying a lot, you’re not alone.

Signs stress may be building (often quietly):

  • Feeling constantly tired, on edge, or numb
  • Trouble focusing or remembering things
  • Irritability, shutting down, or pulling away
  • Sleep changes
  • Using alcohol/cannabis/other substances more often to cope, unwind, or sleep

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not weak. It may be your mind and body signaling that you need support.

Simple ways to care for yourself this week:

  • 60-second check-in: “What am I feeling? What do I need right now?”
  • 2–5 minute reset: stretch, step outside, breathe slowly, unclench your jaw/shoulders
  • Reach out to one person you trust connection helps more than we realize
  • If substances feel like the main coping tool, that’s a good moment to add support—not shame

Ways to support someone:

  • “I’m glad you told me.”
  • “You don’t have to carry this alone.”
  • “Do you want help finding support, or do you just want me to listen?”

Need support now?

  • 988 Call/Text/Chat (24/7)
  • SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (24/7 treatment referrals)

Please take gentle care of yourself this month. You deserve support, rest, and healing—without having to reach a breaking point first.

References

SAMHSA (2023 NSDUH Annual National Report)  U.S. data on mental health, substance use, and treatment access

SAMHSA (2023 NSDUH Highlighted Population Slides: Black/African American)  focused data for Black communities, treatment needs, and recovery

CDC / National Center for Health Statistics (Data Brief: Drug Overdose Deaths in the U.S., 2003–2023) overdose trends, including rates by race/ethnicity

HHS Office of Minority Health  mental and behavioral health overview and disparities for Black/African Americans

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) 24/7 confidential support and treatment referrals

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