Whew. This is one of those posts that isn’t light.
But it’s necessary.
If you’ve been in my world for a while, you know I care deeply about community wellness — not just in theory, but in practice. I’m currently working on a Black Youth Suicide Prevention research study here in Indiana, and we’ve officially begun recruitment.
And y’all.. the need is real.
Let’s Start With Some Facts
We cannot fix what we refuse to name.
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people in the United States.
- Rates of suicide among Black youth have been rising over the past decade.
- Black children ages 5–12 are nearly twice as likely to die by suicide compared to their white peers in the same age group.
- Many Black youth report experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts — but are less likely to receive culturally responsive mental health care.
Read that again.
Black youth are less likely to receive culturally responsive care.
That means:
- Fewer providers who understand lived experience.
- More stigma.
- More silence.
- More suffering in isolation.
That is unacceptable. Please read Still Ringing the Alarm AN ENDURING CALL TO ACTION FOR BLACK YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION for more detailed information on these findings.
What This Study Is About
This research study is focused specifically on improving mental health and suicide prevention efforts for Black youth in Indiana.
There are three ways to participate:
- Black youth (ages 10–17) can complete a survey about mental health, current resources, supports, and barriers to care.
- Black youth (ages 10–17) who have experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors can participate in a confidential 90-minute in-person interview to share their story.
- Black caregivers of youth who have experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors can also participate and share their experiences navigating the system.
Participants are compensated for their time.
And before anyone asks — yes, this study is IRB approved. Yes, it’s confidential. Yes, it’s being conducted through Indiana University.
This is ethical, structured, and protected research organized by Black experts.
Why This Matters (Like.. Really Matters)
Policies get written based on data.
Funding gets allocated based on data.
Programs get created (or ignored) based on data.
If Black youth are underrepresented in research, then our realities are underrepresented in solutions.
This study is about shifting that.
It’s about:
- Naming the roadblocks to care.
- Understanding what support actually feels safe.
- Identifying what prevention needs to look like in our communities.
- Listening — really listening — to Black youth and their caregivers.
- Refusing to let silence win.
If You or Someone You Love Is Eligible
If you are:
- A Black or multiracial youth (ages 10–17), or
- A Black caregiver of a youth who has struggled with suicidal thoughts or behaviors
I would love to connect you directly to the research team.
I’m intentionally not posting QR codes publicly to avoid spam pages and protect the integrity of the study. But if you’re interested, message me. I’ll send you the direct contact information and details.
Your voice could literally help shape mental health policy and prevention strategies across Indiana.
A Gentle Note
If this topic feels heavy for you — take care of yourself first. Always.
And if you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, please call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
We can talk about prevention and still prioritize safety in the moment.
This work is hard, but it is necessary.
Black mental health matters. Black youth deserve to be heard. And prevention has to be built with us — not for us.
If you want to learn more or help spread the word, reach out.
Let’s move from silence to strategy.
Warmly,
Charity 🤎