Many Black men are taught to keep going, stay strong, provide, protect, and manage pressure without showing emotional strain. During COVID-19, those expectations became even heavier as people faced isolation, uncertainty, grief, financial stress, health concerns, and major changes to daily life.
In the Black Enterprise feature, Dr. Rocker discusses the importance of acknowledging anxiety and depression rather than ignoring the signs. Mental health struggles are not a personal failure. They are real human responses to stress, fear, loss, and pressure.
His perspective encourages Black men to recognize what they are feeling, talk honestly about their mental health, and seek support before emotional distress becomes harder to manage.
