A moving combination of memoir, psychology, and practical tools, this book offers Black men guidance and support for reclaiming mental well-being and finding whole, full-hearted living.
Early in his career, actor Courtney B. Vance lost his father to suicide. Recently, he lost his godson to the same fate. Still, as mental health discourse hits the mainstream, it leaves the most vulnerable out of the conversation: Black men.
In America, we teach that strength means holding back tears and shaming your own feelings. In the Black community, these pressures are especially poignant. Poor mental health outcomes-- including diagnoses of depression and anxiety, reliance on prescription drugs, and suicide-- have skyrocketed in the past decade. Institutionalized racism, microagressions, and stress caused by socioeconomic factors have led Black individuals to face worse mental health outcomes than any other demographic.
In this book, Courtney B. Vance seeks to change this trajectory. Along with professional expertise from famed psychologist Dr. Robin Smith (popularly known as “Dr. Robin”), Courtney B. Vance explores issues of grief, relationships, identity, and race through the telling of his own most formative experiences. Together, Courtney and Dr. Robin provide a guide for Black men navigating life’s ups and downs, reclaiming mental well-being, and examining broken pieces to find whole, full-hearted living. Self-care is an act of revolution. It’s time to revolutionize mental health in the Black community.
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“In The Invisible Ache, actor Courtney B. Vance and psychologist Dr. Robin L. Smith insightfully examine the place of mental health in the lives of Black men, shining a light not only on the challenges they so often face, but on the importance of support and connection. By sharing his personal story of losing his father to suicide and how he ultimately engaged with therapy, learning to 'sit in silence and wait for the water to clear,' Courtney’s willingness to be vulnerable is a strength that lends an important voice to the mental health conversation. Combined with Dr. Robin’s clinical perspective and practical tips, this book serves as an important guide not only for Black men, but for anyone who has struggled to find understanding and hope.”—Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
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