Mental Health Stigma in Black Communities: Understanding Therapy Beyond the Misconceptions

by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jul 16, 2026 | Mental Health, Thought Leadership

For generations, many people in Black communities have heard some version of this statement. It reflects one of the most persistent forms of mental health stigma in Black communities: the belief that therapy is only for people experiencing a crisis, a mental...

The Hidden Cost of Adultifying Young Black Men

by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jul 7, 2026 | Mental Health, Thought Leadership, Youth

When a teenage boy doesn’t come to school, we notice his absence — but not that he was up all night caring for younger siblings while his mom worked the late shift. A young boy shuts down when asked how he feels because he’s used to being told to...

When Survival Becomes a Lifestyle: The Hidden Mental Health Crisis Affecting Black Men

by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jun 30, 2026 | Mental Health, Thought Leadership

For some, turning 21 is a milestone celebrated with dinner, a night out, or a gathering of family and friends. For others, it is a life goal. Not because of college plans, career ambitions, or excitement about the next chapter of life. It is because, somewhere along...

The Challenge Is Not Motivation: The Barriers Keeping Black Men Out of Mental Health Careers

by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jun 18, 2026 | Mental Health, Research, Thought Leadership

  In one room, a Black man sits in a waiting room preparing for a therapy appointment he almost canceled. He needs support, but he is questioning whether the system he is about to enter will understand what he has carried to get there. In another room, a young...

GRO Community Hosts Cross-Sector Conversation on Juvenile Justice and Mental Health

by Aaron Mallory | Jun 3, 2026 | Mental Health, Thought Leadership

Youth impacted by the justice system often face far more than legal challenges. Many young men are navigating trauma, community violence, disrupted support systems, and limited access to culturally responsive care.  That’s why GRO Community, in partnership with the...

Black-Owned Mental Health Organization Tackles Mental Health Crisis in Underserved Communities

by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Aug 6, 2025 | Mental Health, News Release

GRO Community Launches Psychiatric Services to Deepen Mental Health Support in Underserved Communities CHICAGO, IL, August 6, 2025 — GRO Community, a Black-owned mental health and social services organization based in Chicago, has launched new psychiatric services as...