While I personally enjoy the festivities that come with this time of year, I know there is a crucial, often darker perspective to consider: the relentless cultural demand for endless cheer. This hides a very tough mental health challenge that stems less from the changing weather and much more from overwhelming social and familial expectations.
The act of philanthropy is a common denominator that is seen across many Black diaspora’s whether they are from Africa or Afro-Caribbean origins, especially in the United States, where the Black diaspora community have leveraged the holiday season as an opportunity to give back to their communities back home through several philanthropic gestures as well as explore initiatives that fosters progress within the very localities they reside in diaspora.
It is already November, which means we have only a few weeks left until January first arrives, carrying that tremendous, collective weight of mandatory self-improvement.
In Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, barbershops in the town become homes where men find opportunities to bond, receive mentorship and guidance, discover valuable life lessons to address varied issues, and, above all, receive the mental, emotional, and healing support they need to become better men in society.
Grad school is intense. Some weeks feel like I am running on fumes, juggling deadlines, projects, and the constant pressure to prove myself.
There is a silent moment of clarity many people experience: the realization that they need mental health support. But this moment of honesty is often immediately met with a harsh reality. The doors to traditional therapy are frequently blocked by systemic barriers: the average cost of a session, long waiting lists, and the sheer inconvenience of scheduling appointments around an already impossible life.
On paper, I was ready for this. A college degree under my belt, grad school ahead of me, and a lease with my name printed on it. In the eyes of society, it may frame that as success… that “you’ve made it” and “you’re on your own now.” But here’s the part that’s harder to admit… independence doesn’t always feel empowering…sometimes it feels isolating.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time when communities around the world come together to recognize that mental health struggles are real, but help is always available. For young African Americans in Philadelphia and African youth living across the continent, knowing where to turn during tough times can save lives. No matter what you’re going through, you are not alone, and support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We often think of preventive health checks as something that belongs in a hospital setting, blood tests, X-rays, physical exams. But the truth is, our mental health deserves the same level of care and preemptive attention. Just like our bodies, our minds carry silent strains, small cracks, and hidden bruises that can deepen over time if left unnoticed.
It’s not always the yelling boss or impossible deadlines that do you in. Often, the real damage happens in hushed corners, through forced smiles in meetings, punch-clock exhaustion, and an unspoken tension you can’t shake. It’s the slow erosion of joy and safety, disguised as “just business as usual” and it leaves wounds that go beyond burnout.
