On the latest episode of Community Uplift, the Gamma Pi chapter of Omega Psi Phi curated a show about mental health awareness in the black community and why we should start engaging in the conversation more.
This episode features powerful guests and their stories, Michael Locksley, Head Coach of the University of Maryland football team, and Terrence “T. Wood” Woodbury, CEO of T. Wood and Associates. The script was written by The CTZNS and hosted by Washington, D.C media personality, Michelline Bowman.
Inspired by the Silent Mental Health Struggles
Terrence Woodbury attributed his passion for mental health awareness to his childhood. “Growing up, at some point I realized that people that I loved and cared about were literally suffering in silence,” Woodbury shared. “Through time I realized that in order to really start healing, it starts literally from something as simple as an honest conversation.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Mental health conversations are not being had enough, especially in the black community. According to McLean Hospital, only about 25% of the black community seeks mental health support when needed, compared to white who is at about 40%. Experts point to the stigma that surrounds mental health awareness in the black community as a deterrent for seeking help. Honestly, even I notice how some of my friends and community members clam up when the topic comes up. There’s something about the shame of it all… A shame that doesn’t exist. Well, it shouldn’t exist.
Coach Locksley Opened Up About Losing His Son, Meiko
Losing someone is always difficult, but I don’t know how it feels to lose a son. I remember following the story of the Locksley family as they were facing a harsh reality after their son, Meiko, was gunned down in Maryland back in 2017. As of last December, the case is still unsolved. Coach Locksley shared how this difficult moment ushered him and his family into mental health advocacy as they reflected on Meiko’s mental health struggles.
The catalyst that sparked it all was “having a son that dealt with mental health issues,” Coach Locksley shared. “He went from being a normal 21 year old Division 1 football player to really struggling with understanding the difference myth and what’s actually happening. For my wife and I, it was a struggle because it was really our first experience with having to navigate mental health, and to find that there’s not a lot of resources for free. We were fortunate that we had to resources to try and figure it out, but figuring it out was not easy.”
“Meiko’s story inspired me because I saw a look in my son’s eye as he dealt with being diagnosed with Psycho Schizoaffective Disorder, where it’s almost like you can see his soul through his eyes,” Locksley continued. He shared how he related the experience to coaching other young men, recanting how he’d see the same looks in the eyes of some of his players.
He says this is the foundation for how he coaches today.
Committed to Fighting the Mental Health Stigma
We are proud to power conversations like these and are grateful for being a part of making it happen. Writing a script only helps create the stages for the conversation, anchors, if you will. The answers during the interviews are the true gold and it was an honor to watch it all come together.
Sending our gratitude to the Gamma Pi chapter of Omega Psi Phi for bringing us on board and the guests for sharing their experiences. Here’s to hoping this conversation is the catalyst for more like it.
