Explore every episode of the podcast Black Mental Health Matters Show

Black Mental Health Matters (BMHM) hosts a powerful, candid conversation on suicide prevention and community support in Black communities. Host Shawn Cunningham sits down with mental health experts and advocates to discuss recognizing warning signs, building supportive networks, and breaking the stigma around suicide — one of the most under-addressed mental health issues in Black communities today.

In this episode:

• Dr. Coretha Entzminger — Psychotherapist
• Dr. Deonte Carter, PhD, MEd — Former Stark County NAACP Chairperson of Military Veterans Affairs & BMHM Host
• Tanisha E. Jarvis — Neurodivergent Educator, Consultant & Advocate

Together, they unpack how cultural stigma, mistrust of mental health systems, and silence around suicide impact Black communities — and what real, culturally sensitive support and prevention can look like.

This episode is part of BMHM's ongoing mission to make culturally relevant, accessible mental health resources available to the Black community.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify. Follow BMHM Show for new episodes on Black mental health, healing, and community wellness.

🌐 bmhm.org | ✉️ podcasts@bmhm.org

If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text.

Black Mental Health Matters Show | Honoring Professor Jason Arday’s LegacyWhat does it really cost to be a Black professional in spaces where you are constantly watched, judged, scrutinized, and expected to represent an entire community?Join the Black Mental Health Matters Show for a powerful conversation exploring Black professionals, hypervisibility, racialized expectations, workplace pressure, identity, belonging, and the mental health cost of being constantly observed.Inspired by the scholarship and legacy of Professor Jason Arday, this episode goes beyond outrage to examine how racism, institutional cultures, stereotypes, and the pressure to be “perfect” can affect the mental health and wellbeing of Black professionals.#BlackMentalHealth #BlackMentalHealthMatters #BlackProfessionals #MentalHealth #Hypervisibility #RacismAndMentalHealth #WorkplaceMentalHealth #BlackLeadership #RacialTrauma #MentalHealthAwareness #JasonArday #BlackMentalHealthMattersShow #MentalHealthInTheWorkplace #DecolonizingMentalHealth

Reparenting Your Inner Child | Black Mental Health Matters Show
Join Black Mental Health Matters for an important and insightful conversation on “Reparenting Your Inner Child.” This episode explores how childhood experiences, unmet emotional needs, trauma, and learned behaviors can continue to shape our relationships, self-esteem, mental health, and daily lives as adults.
Our expert guests will discuss practical approaches to inner child healing, emotional wellness, self-compassion, trauma recovery, and breaking unhealthy generational patterns. Together, we will explore what it means to identify the needs of your inner child and intentionally create healthier patterns for yourself and future generations.
Featured Host
Dr. Joan Samuels-Dennis
Special Guests
Ebony Baylock — Artist & Emotional Intelligence Coach
Sydney Elaine Butler — Founder, HR/DEIA Consultant & Coach
Deshantis Huff — Policy & Nonprofit Consultant
John Burton Jr. — Clinical Faith-Based Therapist
📅 Date: Saturday, August 29
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM ET | 9:00 AM CT | 7:00 AM PT | 2:00 PM GMT | 3:00 PM WAT | 4:00 PM SAST | 5:00 PM EAT
Tune in for a powerful discussion about healing childhood wounds, understanding emotional triggers, practicing self-compassion, setting healthy boundaries, and reclaiming your emotional well-being.
#ReparentingYourInnerChild #InnerChildHealing #BlackMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #ChildhoodTrauma #EmotionalHealing #TraumaRecovery #GenerationalHealing #SelfCompassion #MentalHealthAwareness #HealingJourney #BlackMentalHealthMatters

Join us on the Black Mental Health Matters Show this Saturday!

Topic: Impact of Telehealth & Digital Mental Health

Saturday, August 22nd | 10:00 AM EST

Is virtual care really working for our community? Tune in as we unpack what telehealth delivers — and where it still falls short — for Black mental health.

#BlackMentalHealthMatters #TelehealthTalk #MentalHealthAwareness

Community & Social Activism: The Mental Health Toll of Advocacy

Join Black Mental Health Matters on Saturday, August 8th for a powerful conversation exploring the hidden mental health costs carried by activists, community leaders, and changemakers.

Host Steph C. Jones, MFT, sits down with a dynamic panel to unpack how the weight of advocacy work impacts emotional wellbeing, and how to sustain the fight for justice without sacrificing mental health.

Guests:

Anthony Carter — Health Coach, Filmmaker, Founder of Plant Powered Brothers

Ariana Johnson, MSSA, LSW — Clinical Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist

Daryan Wilkinson — Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Marcus Robinson, DCH IHP QBH — Founder and Chief Architect

C'Sherica Shaw — Mental Health Professional & Community Wellness Advocate

Ruben Watson — Author, Parent Leader, Fundraiser, Visionary

Time 10:00 AM ET / 9:00 AM CT / 7:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM GMT / 3:00 PM WAT / 4:00 PM SAST / 5:00 PM EAT

Tune in for real talk on burnout, resilience, and community care.

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthadvocacy #blackmentalhealth #blackmentalhealthmatters

Join host Ariana Johnson, MSSA, LSW,this Saturday at 10AM EST for a conversation on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in the Black community — the kind of anxiety that often goes unnamed and undiagnosed.

Guests: Dr. Coreetha Entzminger — Psychotherapist

 Lesley R. Scott, LMSW

 Kurt Lamarr Jones — Educator/Actor

Dr. Elizabeth Ssemanda, MD, PhD | Holistic Psychiatrist · Soul-Led Career Coach · Host, BMHM

#GAD #Anxiety #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #CBT

Black Maternal Mental Health Week Topic:

The Motherhood No One Prepared You For — Healing the Body, Holding the Grief: Endometriosis, Birth Trauma & Pregnancy Loss

Host: Itiyopiya Ewart, MSW, MAT

Guests: Jessica Fisher Golden,Founder Mama Matters

Stephanie Jones,MFT

Titilayo Ogunyale,Founder,CEO

DeShantis Huff ,Policy& Nonprofit Consultant

Dr. Joan Samuels-Dennis, RN, PhD, Psychotherapist & Trauma-Informed Leadership Educator

Originally broadcasted on:
Date: July 25th
Time: 11:00 AM EDT / 10:00 AM CDT / 9:00 AM MDT / 8:00 AM PDT

WE HEAL TOGETHER

Black Mental Health Matters Anthem

[INTRO – Spoken]

They told us to be strong.They told us not to cry.But strength is not silence.And healing is not weakness.This is our time.

Black Mental Health Matters.

[VERSE 1]

We carry stories from generations before,Pain in our hearts that we couldn't ignore.Smiles on our faces, storms underneath,Searching for hope, searching for peace.

Mama said, "Pray, you'll be alright,"Daddy taught us how to hide the fight.But now we're breaking every chain,Speaking our truth, releasing the pain.

[PRE-CHORUS]

You don't have to walk alone,You don't have to hide your scars.Your story matters, your life matters,You are exactly who you are.

[CHORUS]

We heal together, we rise together,Through every storm, through every weather.Black minds matter, Black lives matter,Our mental health matters forever.

Lift your voice, let your heart breathe,There is hope, there is room to believe.From generation to generation,We choose healing, we choose liberation.

[VERSE 2]

For every brother afraid to say,"I'm not okay," but smiles anyway.For every sister carrying the load,Giving everybody love while losing her own.

You are worthy of a helping hand,You deserve support, you deserve to stand.No more shame, no more disguise,We face our pain and still we rise.

[BRIDGE – Choir]

I am worthy.I am healing.I am enough.I am still here.

[LEAD]Can you hear me?

[CHOIR]We hear you!

[LEAD]Can you see me?

[CHOIR]We see you!

[LEAD]Do you believe healing is possible?

[CHOIR]YES!

[CHORUS – Full]

We heal together, we rise together,Through every storm, through every weather.Black minds matter, Black lives matter,Our mental health matters forever.

Lift your voice, let your heart breathe,There is hope, there is room to believe.From generation to generation,We choose healing, we choose liberation.

[OUTRO – Spoken/Sung]

No more suffering in silence.No more shame in asking for help.No more carrying the weight alone.

We are community.We are resilience.We are healing.

Black Mental Health Matters.Your mind matters.Your story matters.Your life matters.

We heal together.

Join us this Saturday for the latest episode of the Black Mental Health Matters show. This week’s topic is “Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief.” Tune in to hear host LaChish J. Rigg in conversation with guest Steph C. Jones, MFT, and special guest Quanari Miller, a high school student.

Tune in to the Black Mental Health Matters show this Saturday! Host Sonia Harte will be joined by behavioral scientist Terri Floyd to discuss the rising suicide rates in the Black and African American community and explore actionable steps you can take. Don’t miss this important conversation!

Join us this Saturday for the Black Mental Health Matters show, where we’ll discuss "Access to Care: Navigating the Mental Health System as a Black Person." Hosted by Lachish J. Rigg, CEO of LJR & Coaching LLC, with special guests Mairo Ahmadu, Student Therapist, and Dr. D'Quayvion Cloud, LCSWA, Licensed Social Worker. Don’t miss it!

Join us on Black Mental Health Matters show as we delve into this incredible topic: '' The Psychological and Cognitive Impact of Covid 19 on BIPOC communities .'' Do you have any questions or thoughts to share below? #blackmentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth #BMHM

Join us on a special episode focusing on Black Family Mental Health

Host: Trinity Thomson

Show Duration: One Hour

Time: 8AM CST/9AM EST/6AM PST/2PM GMT/5PM EAT/3PM WAT/4PM SAST

Guests:  Imani Dillon a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, Deonte Carter, a Victim Advocate and M.Ed. Student of Counselling and Clay Rojas a USMC Veteran.

#BlackMentalHealthMatters #mentalhealth #BMHM

Destigmatizing Alternative Methods to Health & Wellness

Hosted by Mekaya Williams-Franklin

Self care intentions for 2023

Join us on Black Mental Health Matters  on a special episode focusing on Addiction and Mental Health. Drug addiction may lead to mental illness or vice versa. Would love to hear your thoughts below.

Hosted by Elsa Afework

 #blackmentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth #BMHM #Addiction #mensmentalhealth

Black Mental Health Matters:

How can Mental Health workers and professionals increase health equity and improve our community's mental health?

Mental Health professionals have a big role to play in helping bridge the gap and reduce the disparities that exists when it comes to access of mental health services in BIPOC communities.

Depression and Poor Mental Health in Teenagers Part 2

Hosted By Rhyana Ebanks-Babb

Depression and Poor Mental Health in Teenagers Part 1

Hosted By Rhyana Ebanks-Babb

Tune in to another episode of Black Mental Health Matters where we engage in a candid conversation on ''Discussing  holistic treatment in our community: Wellness and racial healing in our community. This is episode is proudly Co-Hosted by Mekaya Williams-Franklin and Itiyopiya Ewart M.A.T, MSW  and  we are delighted to have  Dr. Tonicia Freeman-Foster as our special guest.

Do you have any questions or comments? Please drop them below and share with others to get involved!

Join us at Black Mental Health Matters show  Saturdays as we delve into this important topic: ''Depression ,Anxiety and Child Mental Health'' Do you have any questions or comments to share? Please drop them below and get involved. 

Hosted By Cerissa A. Brown 

Special thanks to our guest Carla A. Carlisle

#blackmentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth #BMHM

Join us on Black Mental Health Matters in a special episode focusing on Aging and Mental Health How does aging affect mental health? There is evidence that some natural body changes associated with aging may increase a person's risk of experiencing depression. Recent studies suggest that lower concentrations of folate in the blood and nervous system may contribute to depression, mental impairment, and dementia. Join the conversation below and share your thoughts and questions.

Topic:  New Healthcare Policies and Crisis Resources

Black Mental Health Matters is an international mental health advocacy movement registered as a non profit corporation in Texas , United States to dispel myths, network Mental Health Professionals, encourage open dialogue around Mental health among Black Communities, eradicate stigma and provide an enabling environment for people suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD,PTSS or trauma to heal. Each Saturday at 5PM EAT/2PM GMT Black Mental Health Matters runs a weekly show focusing on different aspects of Mental Health.