ST. LOUIS, MO — Affinia Healthcare serves the community by providing many services such as medical, behavioral, dental and midwifery to name a few. But leaders at the federally qualified health center realized additional services for mental health were needed, services specifically for Black men.
A Conversation: Black Men’s Mental Health was launched earlier this fall to help further Affinia Healthcare’s mission. Once a month, men from a variety of backgrounds gather for a meal and conversation, led by a licensed counselor or therapist. The last event of the year will be held on Saturday, December 30, in the multipurpose room at 1717 Biddle from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Affinia Healthcare conducted a community health needs assessment and one of the areas of concern was the health oif Black men. Affinia Healthcare provides behavioral health services, but leaders realized there needed to be a focus on the mental health of Black men.
“The statistics tell the story of how Black men’s health has been neglected by the healthcare system, and this is especially the case when it comes to mental health,” said Dr. Kendra Holmes, Affinia Healthcare President & CEO. “We know that men are hesitant to see a doctor and the stigma attached to mental health really dissuades men from seeing a professional. We want this to be a soft introduction to what mental healthcare can look like, providing a safe space for men to start having the conversations that help address their mental health.”
Outreach Director for Affinia Healthcare LaDon Meriweather said starting this event was something he was excited to spearhead once he received approval to move forward.
“As a Black man I know we go through a lot, and we don’t have a space at all to just communicate,” he said. “When it popped up in my head, I just wanted to create it because I know what it’s like to literally battle yourself. Since I knew it, and Dr. Holmes gave me the greenlight, that was it.”
In each session men gather and hear from a guest panelist to discuss a wide range of topics. “We touch base on everything, like sometimes how you’re feeling at the time,” Meriweather said. “At the last session, since it was getting close to the holidays, we talked about holiday trauma — when you’ve lost a loved one and you have to deal with it through the holidays.”
For the upcoming session, licensed therapist Mr. Etoya R. White will return as facilitator. The event has mostly seen adult men in attendance, but some participants have brought their sons. “We don’t put an age limit on this because it’s just that important. The young ones need to hear us, and they need to see us show love to each other,” Meriweather added.
No registration is required, and lunch is provided. The dates for 2024 have been set and planning is underway. For event information, contact LaDon Meriweather at 314-814-8737 or via email, lmeriweather@affiniahealthcare.org.
About Affinia Healthcare
Affinia Healthcare is a dynamic and transformative health system, providing affordable primary and preventive health care located in St. Louis, Missouri. Affinia Healthcare is a federally qualified health center, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is nationally accredited through The Joint Commission and National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) organizations. Through its 12 locations (which includes school-based health centers) in St. Louis City and County, Affinia Healthcare serves over 43,700 people per year, of whom more than 90 percent have incomes under 100 percent of the federal poverty level. Approximately 70 percent of patients served are Black or African American, 11 percent are Hispanic/Latine, and over 4,000 are unhoused.
The Affinia Healthcare Foundation depends on a wide array of funding sources and individual donor contributions to care for the most vulnerable and disenfranchised in our community. To make a donation to the Affinia Healthcare Foundation, visit www.affiniahealthcare.org/donate.
For more information about Affinia Healthcare, call 314-814-8700, or visit www.affiniahealthcare.org.
https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/138871148,22542901369/stlargusnews.com.dv.preroll&description_url=https%3A%2F%2Fstlargusnews.com%2F&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640×480&gdfp_req=1&unviewed_position_start=1&output=vast&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=&plcmt=2&vpmute=1
