When Listening Matters More Than Speaking
Reflections from a Black Mental Health Event
A while back, I attended an event called Black Mental Health Community, focused on addressing inequalities affecting Black mental health and discussing how newly allocated funding might support meaningful change.
The initiative has reportedly received £1.5 million over three years. While many of us agreed that this is not a huge amount when spread across multiple communities and projects, it was still encouraging to see targeted investment being directed towards an area that has long been overlooked.
What stayed with me most, however, was not the funding itself — it was the conversations around it.
During one discussion, someone asked why the funding needed to focus specifically on Black communities rather than simply being aimed at “people of colour” more broadly. I was genuinely surprised that this question still needed asking in 2026, especially given the extensive research showing the disproportionate mental health inequalities affecting Black communities, particularly Black men.
From over representation in prisons and psychiatric institutions to barriers within healthcare, education, and employment, these disparities are well documented. Targeted support is not about exclusion; it is about responding to specific and measurable inequalities.
What made the moment even more sobering was discovering that some of the individuals asking these questions worked in public health.
That concerned me deeply.
Public health professionals often help shape policies, funding decisions, and community programme. If people in those positions still struggle to understand why Black-focused initiatives exist, it highlights a wider issue: systems cannot effectively support communities they do not fully understand.
Another thing I noticed was how much talking was happening during the presentations themselves. Some attendees seemed more focused on side conversations than genuinely listening. And I kept thinking: perhaps if more people listened carefully to lived experiences, fewer of these questions would need to be asked in the first place.
Ironically, once some people left early, the conversations became more grounded and constructive. Those who remained began discussing practical solutions, community-led approaches, and how resources could genuinely reach the people most affected.
The day reminded me that progress requires more than funding. It requires humility, awareness, and a willingness to listen without defensiveness.
Most importantly, it reinforced why Black voices must remain central in conversations about Black mental health.
Because those closest to the problem are often closest to the solution.
