Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
Mayor Brandon M. Scott says he is working to strengthen Baltimore’s suicide prevention efforts by expanding mental health support, especially for communities historically underserved by behavioral health systems.
Suicide remains a serious public health issue, with 2 percent of young adults and 20 percent of high schoolers reporting suicidal thoughts or attempts. In Baltimore, leaders are working to expand mental health resources in underserved communities. Photo credit: Unsplash / Studio KVR
“We know that there’s a lot of stigma around mental health, particularly with Black men, when seeking help…That’s why we’re working right now to really expand the resources and meet people where they are,” Scott said.
He pointed to efforts like the city’s peer navigator program at the Enoch Pratt Free Library and initiatives led by the Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement.
“They’re taking many of these young men, bringing them in, building them up through rites of passage programs, and helping them understand their true value and worth,” Scott said.
The mayor also noted an increase in incidents of interpersonal violence that involve untreated mental health.
Advocates say the focus should be on reducing stigma, supporting at-risk youth and building systems of care that intervene before a mental health crisis hits.
Based on a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2023, “Nearly 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 (21 percent) had ever been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition.” The CDC also reported that “4 percent of children ages 3-17 had current, diagnosed depression.”
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance reports that “depression is the cause of over two-thirds of the 30,000 reported suicides in the U.S. each year.”
Addressing the issue requires not only treatment, but also confronting the barriers that keep people from seeking help.
Tina Field is director of crisis systems operations at Baltimore Crisis Response Inc., which supports callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
When people talk about their issues they can begin to feel heard and accepted, which opens conversations for ways to keep themselves safe. Field said that empathy and patience can make the difference between life and death for a person in crisis.
“People are on the very brink, but just being able to be heard helps them move to a place of safety and hope,” she said.
She also called attention to the cultural silence that often surrounds suicide.
“We treat suicide like a dirty word or something that should be hidden. If we could be more open about it, then people may feel more open to talking about suicide earlier — before they move into actions,” she said.
Field encouraged people to overcome personal discomfort and directly ask loved ones if they are thinking about suicide.
“I wish more people were willing to say the word and have the conversation. It can make a huge difference,” she said.
She emphasized the need for public education around the 988 lifeline.
“Only about 40 percent of people in the U.S. know that 988 exists, much less what we do. We want to talk to people before they’re thinking about suicide,” Field said.
Experts and local leaders agree that suicide prevention is not just a mental health issue, it is a community responsibility that requires compassion, connection and sustained investment.