HELI 2016 Alum Dr. Alvin Thomas recently joined a panel of Wisconsin experts to kick off a series of discussions on Black men’s mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
African-Americans have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and many black men in particular, who have underlying health conditions, are more vulnerable to complications from the coronavirus.
Earlier this month, the Black Male’s Mental Health and Well-Being Facebook Live Support Group event series launched as a chance for men to ask health-related questions of an expert panel on any topics they choose. The event was hosted by Aaron Perry, founder of Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association, and featured panelists Dr. Alvin Thomas, Dr. Logan Edwards, Dr. Jonas Lee, and Haywood Simmons, as well as Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes.
The virtual event is coming out of Madison, but Mr. Perry expected engagement from groups of men across the country:
“Right now, we have groups of African-American men from Racine; Milwaukee; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and Phoenix, Arizona who are all committed to participating in this Facebook Live session. We’re starting to get a very broad reach of men who understand that what we’re dealing with here in Dane County, they are dealing with in their own communities as well.”
The first meeting brought together 60 men from around the world and they plan to continue the virtual gatherings each weekend while the pandemic continues.
- A recording of the first event is available online
- Read the Madison365 piece
- Watch the WKOW News feature
- See the School of Human Ecology highlight here
Thank you to Dr. Thomas for sharing this! We encourage our HELI family to share with anyone else who may find it helpful.
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