When Strong isn't Enough: Suicide & Black Womanhood

For too long, suicide and mental health struggles have been shrouded in silence within our communities. Yet the statistics tell a sobering truth: suicide rates among Black women have more than risen—they have accelerated, doubling among young Black females aged 15 to 24 over the last two decades, and continuing to climb during the pandemic years.

To explore this public health concern we are talking with Dr. Kamesha Spates, the William S. Dietrich II Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. A first-generation college graduate, she bridges Africana studies, psychiatry, and sociology to advance racial and health equity. Her work—recognized with national awards—examines anti-Black racism, suicidality, and the mental health of Black communities

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