African mental health: Quick facts

• 14% of the U.S. population, or 47 million people, identify themselves as Black or African American.
• The population of Black individuals in the U.S. grew 32% between 2000 and 2022.
• More than half (56%) of the Black and African American population in the U.S. live in Southern states.
• Immigrants account for about 11% of the Black population in the U.S. In 2022, there were 5.1 million foreign-born Black Americans.
• Nearly 26% of non-Hispanic Black individuals have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Only 5% of the U.S. psychology workforce is Black or African American.
• The poverty rate of Black Americans is reaching record-low numbers. In 1959, the official poverty rate for Black individuals was 55.1%. However, as of 2022, 17.1% of Black and African American individuals live below the poverty line.
• 39% of Black individuals in the U.S. live in a household headed by a married couple. Women are the heads of household in 31% of Black homes, compared to 5% headed by men.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) National Survey on Drug Use and Health:

• 19.7% of Black and African American adults have experienced a mental health condition within the past year
• 4.7% of Black and African American adults have experienced a serious mental illness within the past year
• 7.9% of Black and African American adults have experienced a co-occurring substance use disorder in addition to a mental health condition
• 15.3% of Black and African American adults with a mental health condition have received mental health treatment within the past year
• 6.6% of Black and African American adults have experienced a major depressive episode (MDE) within the past year
• 5.5% of Black and African American adults have had serious thoughts of suicide within the past year
• 1.8% of Black and African American adults have made plans for suicide within the past year

According to SAMHSA’s 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:

• Black adults with mental health conditions are less likely to receive treatment than white or multiracial adults.
• Black adults are more likely to have serious thoughts of suicide than Asian adults.
• Black adults are more likely to have attempted suicide or made a plan for suicide than Asian and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander adults.
• Black young adults aged 18-25 have the highest prevalence of any mental health condition compared to other races.
• Black adults with mental health conditions are less likely to have received treatment than white and multiracial adults.

If you or a friend are struggling with your mental health, take an anonymous, free, and private mental health test. It only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished, you will be given information about the next steps you can take based on the results.

Take a screen

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.