We are so saddened by the death of our cultural icon Don Cornelius two weeks ago. People were calling into radio stations to share their fondest memories of Soul Train. Cornelius was our fabulous version of Dick Clark and American Bandstand. Even more than that, he helped usher in new generations of African American artists on national television.
Behind the distinctive bass tone of his voice and a calm veneer was a man suffering from severe depression. His mental illness was so crippling that he ended his brilliant life by shooting himself. Just as tragic as his death was, so are the many missed opportunities to talk about the dangers of suicide, a taboo topic in the Black community.
Not many accounts in Black Los Angeles newspapers related the circumstances surrounding his mental health and a previous suicide attempt. Truth be told, he was a "walking 5150," which would warrant immediate hospitalization to prevent someone from hurting themselves. Word is that his son was afraid to leave him alone. My question is: Why aren't we talking about this?
My concern is that we continue to ignore the warning signs of mental illness. Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death in African American men. And we don't talk about it. We ignore it. Because of stigma, many are suffering in silence, especially people in the limelight. We cannot continue to sweep these topics under the rug.
If you or someone you know are having thoughts of suicide, call 911, a 24-hour crisis hotline such as the Suicide Prevention Center at (877) 727-4747, or go to your nearest hospital emergency room.
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