Today we get the opportunity to sit down with Brandon J. Johnson, M.H.S., MCHES, creator of The Black Mental Wellness Lounge. Brandon is a tireless advocate for positive mental health and suicide prevention services for youth and adults across the country and within the local community of Baltimore, MD. He is a subject matter expert in suicide prevention, with a particular focus on suicide prevention planning and suicide prevention strategies for Black youth. Today we talk about how his Black Mental Wellness Lounge came to be, the data around suicide and mental health stigma for Black youth, and mental health within faith-based communities.
Brandon earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Morgan State University in 2008 and a Master of Health Science Degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2012. Brandon is the creator of “The Black Mental Wellness Lounge,” a YouTube channel dedicated to discussing Black mental health and healing. The Black Mental Wellness Lounge is dedicated to the promotion of Black mental health tips, education, and resources for the community. The mission is to create content on Black mental health that anyone, whether a professional in the field or not, can use to increase their knowledge and awareness of the specific mental health needs, challenges, and assets of Black people.
Websites
1N5.org
The Black Mental Wellness Lounge
SAMSHA
Suicide Prevention Research Center
Faith Hope Life - National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Psychology Today - Find a Therapist
MindPeace Search for Provider (Cincinnati area specific)
Find 1N5 on social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/1N5.org.stopthestigma/
Instagram: @1n5.org.stopthestigma/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/1N5_org
Find The Black Mental Wellness Lounge on social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheBlackMentalWellnessLounge/
Instagram: @blackmentalwellnesslounge
Twitter: @BranJJohnson1
YouTube: The Black Mental Wellness Lounge
National Resources: You don’t have to be in a crisis to talk with someone.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1- 800-273-TALK (8255)
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741
The Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 mental health support via text message. Crisis Counselors bring texters “from a hot moment to a cool calm” using techniques in empathetic listening. Once they’ve built rapport and trust, explored the issues, and established the texter’s goal, they collaboratively problem-solve to help the texter come up with a plan to stay safe. Texting in will not appear on your bill if you have AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon as your cell phone carrier.