When Strong isn't Enough: Suicide & Black Womanhood

Unpacking Suicide Among Black Women

For too long, suicide and mental health struggles have been shrouded in silence within our communities. Yet the statistics tell a sobering truth: suicide rates among Black women have more than risen—they have accelerated, doubling among young Black females aged 15 to 24 over the last two decades, and continuing to climb during the pandemic years.

What drives this? It’s not just one thing—it’s a complex convergence of racial trauma, societal expectations to ‘be strong,’ gendered violence, and systemic barriers to care. Add on, mental health professionals trained without cultural context, survivors of childhood abuse and criminal justice systems—all these factors intersect.

To explore this public health concern we are talking with Dr. Kamesha Spates, the William S. Dietrich II Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. A first-generation college graduate, she bridges Africana studies, psychiatry, and sociology to advance racial and health equity. Her work—recognized with national awards—examines anti-Black racism, suicidality, and the mental health of Black communities. Her scholarship has been featured in public outlets such as Essence Magazine, USA Today, and HuffPost. Beyond academia, she finds joy in family life, meditation, and honoring her grandmother’s legacy through an annual scholarship for underrepresented students.

To learn more about Dr. Spates, click here. 

• African‑American Women and Suicide: A Review and Critique of the Literature

• What Don’t Kill Us Makes Us Stronger: African American Women and Suicide

• "I’ve Got My Family and My Faith": Black Women and the Suicide Paradox

• Gendered Racism in the Lives of Black Women

Season 3 Episode 3

Running Time:  38 minutes