The YBMen Project is now being offered in high schools!
We continue to see an increase in the number of programs dedicated to the mental health of Black/African American adolescent boys. Despite this growth, little work has focused on exploring and supporting Black adolescent boys’ experiences with mental health, perceptions of manhood, and social support.
What We Are Doing
We are doing exploratory studies to test the feasibility of adapting the YBMen program for 14-17-year-old Black adolescent boys in high schools in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Given the social media preferences of boys in this age group, we are considering both Instagram and Facebook as potential platforms for the YBMen intervention. Additionally, we are using age-appropriate, gender-specific, and culturally-sensitive popular cultural references to disseminate information on mental health, gender identity, racial identity, and social support to Black adolescent boys.
Findings
We are in the process of conducting focus groups with Black boys in high schools, their parents, and school professionals. Check back later for details.
