Credit: nopauseproject.org

No Pause Project aims to break down toxic masculinity and promote men's mental health supportFor Black Voice News, Breanna Reeves writes that for decades the term “pause” has been used by straight men to signal discomfort with behavior that could be perceived as “gay.” This practice not only perpetuates homophobia but also polices men’s behavior, and reinforces harmful stereotypes about masculinity. However, The No Pause Project, a groundbreaking initiative by 22Squared and Therapy for Black Men, aims to dismantle “pause culture” and strengthen mental health support for Black and Brown men and boys. “[The No Pause Project’s] primary objective is to revolutionize dialogues and viewpoints surrounding masculinity, specifically targeting the adverse impact of ‘pause culture’ on men’s mental well-being,” stated Therapy for Black Men Founder Vladimire Calixte in an email to Black Voice News.The campaign, which includes a card game, tackles the stigmas and societal pressures surrounding masculinity and toxic masculinity. With suicide being the third leading cause of death for Black men ages 15-24, the project seeks to address this pressing mental health crisis by donating all proceeds to Therapy for Black Men. The card game includes tasks and questions designed to help players confront the stigmas and pressures all men face, including “show everyone what your giggle sounds like” and “look a homie in the eye and say I love you.”Black Voice News has more →

Credit: iStockHow to tame stressConstant worry and stress take a toll on our bodies and minds, so how can we break the cycle and find peace? A June episode of The Happiness Lab, a podcast on the science of being happy, reshared by Immigrantly, delves into this question by exploring insights from one of America’s most stressed-out communities: caregivers.

Hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos, the episode features Hollywood star Steve Guttenberg's deeply personal story about caring for his father in his final years. “I was a reluctant caregiver because I didn’t want to see my dad like that,” Guttenberg admits, reflecting on the emotional weight of seeing his hero, a former New York City policeman, ina vulnerable state.

Gutterberg’s experience echoes the loneliness and pressure many caregivers face, as an estimated 38 million Americans provided care to a loved one last year. Dr. Elissa Epel, who also joined the conversation, sheds light on why some caregivers suffer more than others. Stress, she explains, is a natural survival response, but chronic stress — if left unchecked — can wreak havoc on our health. Depression and inflammation are just a few of the many ways stress manifests physically.

Dr. Epel also stresses the importance of breaking a routine of daily stress through practices including "expressive writing" and gratitude. 

"We keep our stress alive in our thoughts," she adds, urging listeners to journal about their worries and burdens without censoring themselves.🎧 Listen to the full episode reshared by Immigrantly podcast →

Credit: iStock

Finding a therapist with a shared background has been my saving graceSocial worker and disability rights activist Vilissa Thompson recounts her journey seeking therapy in 2022 in this story published in Prism. Determined to find a therapist who could relate to her identity as a "multiply-marginalized" Black person, Thompson writes that she wanted to escape whiteness in this part of her care and focused on finding a culturally competent therapist. 

“I wanted a therapist who understood my intention and who didn’t try to impose their own views on the kinds of support a disabled client may need or want.”

Thompson also highlights the scarcity of Black mental health professionals in the U.S., citing that only 2% of an estimated 41,000 psychiatrists in the country are Black, with Black psychologists making up just 4%. Finding a therapist who fit her criteria was crucial, especially when she needed support to process the grief of losing a friend. 

Thompson writes, “Beginning our work together at such a difficult time showed me the depth of my therapist’s skills that were grounded in empathy, understanding, and a real sensitivity to the reality that loss is too common for disabled people.”Read the rest of Vilissa’s story here →

Highlighting the innovators transforming health outcomes in our communities

Heewon Lee, a genetic counselor and assistant director of the Genetic Counseling Program at the University of Minnesota, is one of 10-15,000 Korean adoptees in Minnesota. Lacking her biological family's health history, she faces unique challenges, as this information is crucial for appropriate health screenings and care. At the International Conference on Adoption Research, Lee spotlighted the importance of clinical genetic testing and the need for adoptees to build their personal health history → 

Credit: Sheila M. Eldred for Sahan Journal