Accessibility links
Mental Health News & Notes takes an in-depth look at mental illness, racial disparities in mental health care, and perceptions and issues surrounding the topic, with a focus on African Americans.
Special Series

Mental Health

Black Men Overcoming Stigma of Depression

Are black men less likely to seek help for mental illness? Are they even willing to acknowledge that they may have a problem? Journalist and author John Head has seen this problem from the inside. His new book is titled Standing in the Shadows: Understanding and Overcoming Depression in Black Men.

Black Men Overcoming Stigma of Depression

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89238847/89238837" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Suicide Rate Among Blacks Is Cause for Alarm

While whites may be twice as likely as African Americans to commit suicide, the rate is growing faster among black youth. As part of our series on mental health, we'll talk about these disturbing trends with Dr. Alvin Poussaint of Harvard Medical School and Donna Barnes, president of the National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide.

Suicide Rate Among Blacks Is Cause for Alarm

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89151091/89151083" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

How Do Courts Deal With Mental Health Issues?

The tabloids went wild when pop star Britney Spears was taken into custody and ferried to a Los Angeles psychiatric ward. Judge Lynn Toler joins us to explore what happens when the courts try to intervene in cases involving mental illness.

How Do Courts Deal With Mental Health Issues?

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89116889/89116870" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Adjusting to Life with HIV/AIDS

Today we look at the psychological dimensions of HIV/AIDS — from the trauma of receiving the news to the side effects brought on by AIDS medications. Farai Chideya talks with Carla Bailey, co-chair of the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV; Regan Hoffmann, editor-in-chief of POZ magazine; and psychiatrist Dr. Michelle Clark.

Adjusting to Life with HIV/AIDS

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/88760106/88760090" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Dealing with Post Traumatic Stress After War

Many active duty soldiers and veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan return home with nightmares, flashbacks, and emotional hypersensitivity. Some of them are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Dealing with Post Traumatic Stress After War

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/88678418/88678411" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Treating Children with Mental Disorders

Though it's normal for children to run around, scream and sometimes play rough with other kids, how can you tell if your child's high energy levels are a problem? Farai Chideya takes a closer look at dealing with kids' mental health issues.

Treating Children with Mental Disorders

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/88232792/88232784" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Brain Chemistry Influencing Mental Health

How does the brain's wiring contribute to mental illness? For insight, Farai Chideya talks with psychiatrist Dr. Carl C. Bell about the role of psychiatric drugs in treatment. Then, Rebecca Walker — author of Baby Love — discusses her own experiences with psychiatric medication and the challenges she faced following the birth of her child.

Brain Chemistry Influencing Mental Health

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/88194868/88194860" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Does Fear of Mental Illness Hinder Therapy?

Depression, paranoia, schizophrenia are seen as scary words and even more frightening realities. African Americans facing mental health issues aren't always likely to get therapy or medical support. We continue our month-long series on mental health with a look at the ways black communities are getting over the stigma of therapy.

Does Fear of Mental Illness Hinder Therapy?

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/87985210/87985194" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Comedian Brian Copeland Fighting for Happiness

Farai Chideya talks candidly with author and comedian Brian Copeland about his struggles with depression and identity, which led to his suicide attempt in 1999. Copeland opens up on his fight to live a happy life.

Comedian Brian Copeland Fighting for Happiness

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/87952111/87952091" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Mental Health in the Black Community

News & Notes kicks off a new series on mental health. We get insight on mental illness and racial disparities in mental health care from Dr. Annelle Primm — director of minority and national affairs for the American Psychiatric Association — and Dr. William Lawson, professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine.

Mental Health in the Black Community

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/87952114/87952092" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org