Allan Garnett traces his mental health struggles to childhood.
At just 10 years old, he grappled with self-worth and acceptance. Now an adult, the Indianapolis resident and single father confronts a legacy of untreated trauma compounded by societal pressures.
“Nobody prepares you for the mental toll life takes on you,” Garnett said. “Opinions weigh on you, especially from loved ones.”
His breaking point came in 2009 with a suicide attempt. He lacked therapy or support afterward. Cultural stigma in his family deepened the isolation.
“I acknowledge mental health’s importance. They don’t,” Garnett said. “Nobody considers the mental toll to reach that point.”
The weight of dual burdens
Garnett’s experience reflects broader crises. Black men face intersecting pressures: systemic racism, economic inequality and cultural expectations of stoicism.
According to the American Psychological Association, suicide rates among Black men surged 22% from 2014-2019. Yet they are 50% less likely to receive mental health care than their white counterparts, per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Jaya Jaya Myra, a mind-body wellness expert, links this silence to harmful norms.
“Too often, men learn expressing emotion is weakness,” Myra said. “Suppressing emotion fuels chronic stress, anxiety and burnout. This leads to long-term health complications.”
Garnett knows this tension intimately. As a single Black father, he battles exhaustion.
“You try to be everything to everybody. But you’re all alone,” Garnett told the Indianapolis Recorder. “Like a scarecrow in a cornfield.”
Survival through self-reclamation
Recent family conflicts nearly shattered Garnett’s progress.
“It played havoc with my mental health,” he said. “I questioned myself. I almost crashed out.”
His children became lifelines. Seeing their smiles, hearing their voices — these moments anchor him.
He emphasizes self-preservation now.
“Cut some ties. Create space,” Garnett urged. “Nothing is worth losing mental health over.”
A call to action
When asked what he tells other struggling Black men, Garnett’s message radiates compassion:
“I love you. People care. Even if you don’t hear it.”
He stresses resilience through community, adding, “Look back later. You’ll say: ‘I really made it.'”
Barriers persist. Mistrust in medical systems, lack of culturally competent care and financial hurdles limit access. Addressing this demands policy reform and community-driven solutions.
The road ahead
Garnett defines his journey in one word: evolution.
“I won’t be the same person tomorrow,” he said. “It’s forever changing.”
Myra underscores urgency.
“Silent suffering isn’t strength,” Myra said. “Healing requires rejecting toxic silence.”
For Garnett, progress means modeling vulnerability for his children. And for others.
“Somebody looks up to you,” Garnett said. “Your struggles inspire them. Your triumphs champion them.”
As Men’s Mental Health continues, many are seeking help. If you know someone who is struggling with mental health, urge them to contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
