Navigating Black Mental Health: Understanding Our Children’s Reality
Navigating Black Mental Health is a community workshop led by Duane Wiafe on February 20, focused on helping parents and caregivers better understand the mental health realities facing Black children and families today. The session explored how social media, academic pressure, cultural expectations, and generational differences impact mental well-being.
Participants discussed early warning signs of mental health challenges, the importance of communication and listening, and how conflict at home affects children’s emotional safety.
Emphasis was placed on addressing concerns early, reducing stigma, and recognizing that mental health does not always look dramatic. The workshop highlighted the role of families and community in supporting mental wellness.
What is Mental Health? Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, cope with stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Mental health exists on a spectrum and can change over time.
Our children are growing up in a world that is fundamentally different from the one we experienced.
- Social media never turns off—comparison is constant and global
- Bullying now follows children online; it doesn’t stop at school
- Academic competition is global and more intense than ever
- Identity is constantly questioned across cultures, race, and belonging
- Pressure today is different, heavier, and more visible
What motivated us may not motivate them in the same way.
Pressure can motivate, but it can also harm.
- When does pressure help, and when does it overwhelm?
- Are we pushing children toward diplomas—or toward learning and fulfillment?
- Comparing siblings or peers can unintentionally create shame
- Every child responds differently to expectations
Key reflection: What worked for us may not work for them.
Culture, Parenting, and Generational Differences
Many of us are raising children at the intersection of two cultures.
- Our values matter, but our children’s lived reality is different
- Survival skills from our upbringing may not fit today’s environment
- Our children’s experiences are not a sign of weakness—they are different
- No culture is more valuable than another; integration matters
Listening matters more than constant advising.
Mental health struggles don’t always look like crises.
Warning signs to pay attention to (lasting 2+ weeks):
- Withdrawal or isolation
- Loss of interest in activities they once loved
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Irritability or emotional numbness
- Sudden drop in motivation
This is not laziness—it’s a signal to check in.
Instability at home has a profound impact on children’s mental health.
Community voices shared:
- “How do I survive in a home with constant fighting?”
- “Conflict at home makes me want to disappear.”
Key lessons:
- Children learn how to resolve conflict by watching us
- Repairing conflict is just as important as avoiding it
- Apologizing models emotional responsibility
- A safe home doesn’t mean a perfect home
Silence and unresolved conflict teach children to avoid, not heal.
Not all concerns are crises—but all concerns deserve attention.
- Statements like “I want to disappear” must be taken seriously
- Sudden personality or behavior changes should not be ignored
- Address issues early—don’t wait for a breaking point
- Respect privacy when someone opens up
Early intervention saves lives.
Mental health is not an individual issue—it’s collective.
- Mental health includes mind, body, heart, and spirit
- Families are the first mental health educators
- Community support reduces isolation and stigma
- Cultural wisdom and scientific knowledge must coexist
We are raising children in a shared environment—none of us can do this alone.
Our responsibility is not to raise children who mirror us, but to raise children who are supported, understood, and equipped for the world they live in. Listening, noticing changes, repairing harm, and staying open can make all the difference. For counselling support for parents, please reach out to Duane Wiafe at FITT Social Work Services Inc. 226-455-8256 and you can book appointment at https://fittsocialworker.janeapp.com/