Mental Health Matters

Black Men Speak! shares its original anthem and mission statement on Mental Health Matters.

Black Men Speak!, a speakers bureau based in Alameda County, seeks to inform and enlighten the mental health community and the general public about issues concerning African American males with mental health and substance abuse challenges.

To view the full episode, please visit: http://blip.tv/file/4472575 

Kenneth Davis, member of Black Men Speak!, shares his story of recovering from alcoholism and drug abuse in his presentation entitled "A Personal Story of Wellness and Recovery." He also discusses his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and the resulting struggle with self-esteem.

Black Men Speak!, a speakers bureau based in Alameda County, seeks to inform and enlighten the mental health community and the general public about issues concerning African American males with mental health and substance abuse challenges.

Roscoe Moseby, member of Black Men Speak!, shares his own experiences with mental health in a presentation entitled "A Personal Story of Wellness and Recovery." Roscoe describes his story of PTSD, isolation, and his nervous breakdown upon returning home from service in the armed forces. He also discusses overcoming drug abuse that started in the military.

Renwicke Vittito, member of Black Men Speak!, discusses his experiences with psychiatric medications and self-medication in a presentation entitled "My Road to Recovery." Renwicke reflects on being a functioning addict as well as his diagnoses of manic depression, schizoaffetive disorder, and asocial disorder.

Black Men Speak!, a speakers bureau based in Alameda County, seeks to inform and enlighten the mental health community and the general public about issues concerning African American males with mental health and substance abuse challenges.

Black Men Speak!, a speakers bureau based in Alameda County, seeks to inform and enlighten the mental health community and the general public about issues concerning African American males with mental health and substance abuse challenges.

To view the full episode, please visit: http://blip.tv/file/4552948

William Garrett, a member of Black Men Speak!, recalls how his parents taught him about the art of giving. Having grown up in Oakland in difficult financial times, Garrett shares how he overcame a life of crime and substance abuse. He currently serves as the Medical Coordinator for a local community services agency specializing in homeless as well as mentally and physically disabled individuals.

Black Men Speak! member DeWitt Buckingham discusses the taboo topic of incest occurring within the African American community. DeWitt explains the effects on victims (usually women), including depression, guilt, PTSD, and low self-esteem. He also shares what African American males can do to be positive role models, provide support to women, and end the cycle of sexual violence.

Harry Caldwell, Chairman of the POCC African American Male Issues Committee and member of Black Men Speak!, performs his original song, "Never Would Have Made It." The song pays tribute to the supportive people and forces that help others recover.

Black Men Speak!, a speakers bureau based in Alameda County, seeks to inform and enlighten the mental health community and the general public about issues concerning African American males with mental health and substance abuse challenges.

Black Men Speak! member Ernest Hardmon III discusses how ancestry plays a role in modern African American culture, attitudes, and sense of self. Hardmon describes how slaves were described by power groups a few centuries prior, including "inferior," "feeble-minded," and "subhuman." He argues that such terminology and treatment of ancestors contribute to Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, a multi-generational mental struggle arising from centuries of trauma.