By Bo Tefu, Antonio Harvey and Edward Henderson | California Black Media
As rates of stress, suicide, and cognitive decline rise within Black communities, the California Black Health Network (CBHN) is convening experts and community leaders for a statewide virtual conference aimed at confronting what organizers describe as a growing public health crisis.
The Behavioral and Mental Health Conference, scheduled for May 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will focus on the intersection of mental health, chronic stress, and brain health in Black communities.
CBHN Executive Director Rhonda Smith said the conference was driven by alarming data and firsthand accounts from healthcare practitioners across the state.
“We’ve seen an increase in suicide rates among Black teens, particularly Black boys,” Smith said, pointing to research showing a sharp rise over recent years. “COVID only exacerbated that isolation and stress.”
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, suicide rates among Black youth have risen significantly over the past decade, while data from the University of California, Los Angeles California Health Interview Survey shows that nearly 1 in 5 Black Californians have seriously considered suicide.
The conference will also address disparities in brain health. Black Americans are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia compared to White Americans, a trend experts link to chronic stress and systemic inequities.
Smith said the selection of topics to be covered during the event was shaped directly by CBHN’s statewide network of nearly 1,000 health professionals, particularly its mental and behavioral health peer group.
“They are the eyes and ears on the ground,” she said. “They helped identify what’s happening in our communities and what we need to address right now.”
The virtual format is designed to increase accessibility while connecting attendees with culturally competent experts who understand the lived experiences of Black communities.
Sessions will also examine policy impacts, including how federal legislation like H.R. 1 could affect access to care and the future diversity of the healthcare workforce.
Held during Mental Health Awareness Month, the conference aims to provide practical tools, community-driven solutions, and a space for open dialogue.
“This is about raising awareness, but also about action,” Smith said. “We want people to leave with strategies for healing, resilience, and long-term change.”
