mental illness Archives - Rolling Out

The need for greater awareness and support of mental health and wellness in the African American community remains an ongoing and intentional effort. Prompted by his own personal experiences with mental illness, Calvin G. Seino, better known as DJ Tryfe, decided to turn his 30th birthday celebration into the Viribus Ball to raise money and awareness. “I…

Andre Johnson is the president and CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project Inc., a multi-service agency that provides a wide spectrum of support services to the city’s recovery community. The Detroit native has 23 years of professional experience implementing programs to tackle substance abuse. Since its inception in 2005, the Detroit Recovery Project has devoted…

Melissa Graves has been deeply involved in taking steps to make changes in mental health. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 18 years of experience serving children, adolescents, adults and families in communities, schools and private settings in Florida and Georgia. In 2015, Graves joined CHRIS 180, an Atlanta based…

Reia Chapman, founder and director of clinical services at the Center for Family & Maternal Wellness in Charlotte, North Carolina, is committed to helping others. Chapman embodies what she considers to be her calling and a commitment to liberating clients through mental and emotional wellness. As a professional social worker, psychotherapist and public speaker, she strives to break…

Americans suffering from some form of Mental Illness is devastating. According to Mental Health America, over 44 million Americans are affected by some form of mental health issues. During the month of May, mental illness awareness is observed. In observance of Mental Illness, rolling out spoke with Dr. Monique Aguirre, affectionately known as Dr. Mo, regarding…

Over the past few years, America has seen how police handle mentally ill Black suspects with a weapon. More often than not, it results in a violent incident in which the mentally ill suspect winds up viciously beaten or even killed by responding officers. These incidents are in stark contrast to situations when a White…

Cardi B feels like she’s “losing her mind” sometimes. “The “Bodak Yellow” rapper, who has daughter Kulture with her husband Offset, admits it can be tough navigating fame, and she has her down days, too. Responding to reports Selena Gomez has entered treatment for an “emotional breakdown,” Cardi told E! News: “When I met her,…

For well over a year, America has seen Kanye West, one of the brightest stars in hip-hop, burn with intensity — an intensity that has shown in his unwavering support of President Donald Trump and his racist policies. Kanye’s rants grew stranger, including two weeks ago when he took to social media and posted: “We…

There is a video making the rounds on social media that shows a mentally ill Milwaukee man taking on six cops. Police say that they received a report about a man who kicked a door in at a residence. When officers responded to the call, they spotted Demetrious Lowe, 25, walking down the street bleeding.…

In 2001, global superstar Mariah Carey reportedly had a physical and mental breakdown which led to hospitalization. In a recent interview with People magazine, Carey, 48, admits “Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” after her 2001 diagnosis with bipolar II disorder and subsequent hospitalization. According…

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump showed his true racist colors this week with his now infamous alleged “shithole” comment about Haiti and Africa. These comments combined with his recent erratic behavior is giving more credence to the thought that Trump is mentally unfit to be President and should be removed from office, a call that is being…

As founder of Bernita Croslan Ministries, Bernita Croslan is on a mission to encourage, embrace and empower women to be healed from brokenness through a spiritual and mental recovery. One of her most renowned ministry events is “The Recovery Room,” a panel-led open forum designed to help women release pain and receive healing from various…

Deran Young is the founder and CEO of Black Therapists Rock, an organization comprised of individuals and agencies committed to improving the social and psychological well-being of vulnerable communities. BTR’s efforts raise awareness of mental health issues. Young earned her master’s degree in social work and a master’s in public administration, concentrating on leadership, diversity, and organizational…

football player

There can no longer be any doubt that there is a definitive link between playing football and concussions. A groundbreaking study of the brains of deceased NFL players by a research team at Boston University discovered that 99 percent of the specimens show signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The condition reached national prominence after…

Zina Age, the CEO of Aniz Inc. is passionate about helping people. Her goal is not about breaking human vices but reducing the harm to the body as well mastering the vice. Check out her conversation about HIV and social determinants.

Mental illness can affect people directly and indirectly. Taylor Flinn indirectly experienced mental illness through a family member but did not realize it. Flinn explains how she dealt with mental illness: “As a child, I never really noticed it [mental illness] because we never really talked about it. I can recall as a child a…

Mental illness is a disorder that affects many Black families directly and indirectly. Quentin Vennie is a young man who battled low self-esteem and the feeling of abandonment. At the age of 14, he was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Many who are suffering mental disorders opt not to seek medical attention. Though Vennie sought…

After many years of fighting mental illness, motivational speaker and author Quentin Vennie can freely speak about his liberation. At the age of 14, Vennie was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Now 33, Vennie was able to beat his mental disorder, drug addiction and alcoholism. In his memoir, Strong in the Broken Places, Vennie talks…

Recently, images of a homeless and legless woman smoking a marijuana blunt on an NYC subway went viral. The woman, later identified as Michelle Carter, 60, expertly rolled a blunt and began puffing away to the amazement of passengers. Fellow passengers began to harass the woman as she tried to enjoy her weed, calling her…

With recent reports of Kanye West’s and Kid Cudi’s mental conditions trending in the media, depression is finally becoming a topic that is being addressed in the black community. One individual who is acknowledging and addressing the stigmas related to mental illness and depression is actor and former NFL player Jay Barnett. Barnett has been…