DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Three recent cases of suicide or attempted suicide in the Black community have certified professional counselors in metro Atlanta sounding the alarm.
That's because the number of both has grown over the last several years. While they work to try and stop it, they say they need help from the community.
"It's so important that all communities, but especially communities of color, are talking about mental health and mental illness," Laura Morse, a licensed professional counselor in Atlanta, said.
But for years, many haven't. Despite campaigning, celebrity advocates and increased awareness around the topic, counselors said mental health struggles and the stigmas associated with getting help are still very much present.
"Specifically when it comes to men, Black men, there's still a lot of blockage," Justen DeBowles, a licensed professional counselor in Dunwoody, said.
He knows the Black community's struggles all too well. According to CDC data, in 2022, almost 50,000 people died by suicide. Looking at the results broken down by race, there was a spike in African Americans, particularly Black men.
Sunday morning a Black 23-year-old man was left hospitalized by Dekalb County Police after threatening to harm himself with a shot gun to his head. When he walked towards officers and pointed the gun at them, two officers fired. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations is now investigating the case.
"Those cases always kind of break my heart. Out of frustration and feeling like they can't get any help, that person will respond in a very erratic type of way, and that leads to an officer doing what he's been trained to do," DeBowles said. " It takes such a negative turn so often. I'm glad to hear that he's alive and recovering in Grady, and I'm hoping that while there, he can get the help that he needs."
The second case in Dekalb County was just a few hours later, shot dead at apartments on Ashley Creek Circle. Officers later labeled it as a murder-suicide.
"She makes a permanent decision to what could have been a temporary problem. But the way mental health plays into this is if she's been dealing with this for a very long time, she doesn't see it as a temporary problem at all," DeBowles said.
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In both cases, lives are more important than statistics. That's why professionals said more conversations will help.
"Finding words or language to even identify an issue is one step which in a positive direction, but the next step is treatment right? That needs to be more common and more conversations about that option are needed," Morse said.
Counselors say finding the resources that work for you or a struggling loved one is key. DeBowles is part of a network of Black male counselors in and around Atlanta who help care for those in their community.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can always contact the Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) Toll-Free (800) 715-4225
GCAL, a service of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), is staffed by counselors who can connect callers with outpatient services, mobile crisis help, detoxification services, stabilization, and more. GCAL is available to people of all ages 24/7 in all parts of Georgia.
GCAL dispatches 24/7 Mobile Crisis Services to 159 counties in Georgia. This service sends a mental health professional to the home to assess people with urgent psychiatric needs. You may call on behalf of another person who needs help. It is ideal for you to be physically present with that person at the time.
Some common reasons for calling Mobile Crisis include:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Threatening violence or harm toward others
- Altered mental state that could pose a danger to the individual or others. GCAL can link callers to a variety of related services.