How to safeguard your mental health and well-being at work as a Black man

On the morning of January 14, 2025, just hours before my stress test during an annual physical, I received devastating news from a colleague at a global financial institution. A 45-year-old Black man, a highly respected managing director at our firm, had unexpectedly died from a heart ailment. While texts of grief poured in from mourning colleagues throughout the day, I was struck by a sobering realization. I had become disturbingly accustomed to hearing such tragic news about successful Black men in professional circles.

Just a few months earlier, another industry peer—the first Black chief information officer of a major U.S. bank—suffered a debilitating stroke that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. Thankfully, his wife was nearby and rushed him to the hospital in time to save his life. He was only 48 at the time of the stroke. In late February, another good friend of mine—a fit, strapping young Black man in his late 30s who works as a creative for an NBA team—suffered a stroke. He’s had to endure multiple surgeries since then to stop bleeding in his brain.

A similar tragedy struck my family 23 years ago when my uncle, Juan Simpson died suddenly of a heart attack during the Christmas holidays. He was 48 years old and had been a senior executive at Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., Johnson & Johnson’s surgical device division. At the time of his death, my uncle was flying high in lonely, rarified, high-pressure air. Back then, white men held 95% of all executive-level positions in corporate America.

Each of these men is a shining example of what people of color can achieve in the corporate world through education, hard work, connections, and a bit of luck. Yet their tragic experiences raise some pressing questions for Black corporate men and their families. Is climbing the corporate ladder riskier for Black men? And what steps must Black men take to safeguard their physical and mental health while working in high-pressure environments?

Black men’s experience in corporate America

Today, Black men have the second-lowest life expectancy of all racial groups in the United States, with only Native American/Alaska Native men living shorter lives, according to research by KFF.  And while studies show that education and higher socioeconomic status improve health outcomes for other groups, (including Black women) the opposite is true for Black men. In fact, the more successful Black men become, the greater the likelihood they’ll experience anxiety and depression. Both of these often serve as triggers for negative health outcomes. 

I can personally attest to this after suffering from both anxiety and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to the stresses of trying to succeed in my first job as a stock market reporter for Thomson Reuters.

Corporate America offers many advantages—six-figure salaries, generous health benefits, and a means to a comfortable retirement. If you’re fortunate, you can do intellectually satisfying work while forging deep friendships along the way. But in exchange for these benefits, there are potentially deadly stressors that may affect Black men’s bodies differently than their non-Black peers. Everyone who works in corporate America is faced with the challenge of managing stress in a sustainable way. It’s part of the game. But for Black people, especially Black men, it can be a matter of life and death.

How Black men can safeguard their health while working in the corporate world

1. Find the right doctor

An alarming 2011 study by the University of Michigan found that a majority of Black men don’t go to the doctor. The reasons why so Black men avoid the doctor, the research notes, is that we often find doctor’s visits stressful. There’s also a widespread belief that doctors don’t provide adequate information on how to make the right lifestyle changes to improve our health. 

We also put off routine doctor’s visits due to distrust of the American healthcare system. This is due to well-documented historical reasons. It’s also because many Black people in this country report enduring at least one negative experience with doctors, like having to speak up to get proper care. Many also find that their medical provider doesn’t take their pain seriously.

But it’s imperative that Black professional men do their homework to find a doctor they’re comfortable with. Blackdoctor.org, Blackdoctorsusa.com, and Findablackdoctor.com are all helpful resources.

2. Therapy is a big help

For those of us who’ve managed to get our foot in the door and establish careers in corporate America, the people in our lives may see us as Superman. But while Superman can rejuvenate himself in his fortress of solitude, we can’t always solve our emotional challenges by ourselves. We can benefit from seeking psychological counseling, which can prevent the development—or worsening—of mental health issues.

3. Prioritize time with friends

My closest friends were the center of my world throughout my 20s. Little did I know back then how hard it would be to sustain all those relationships as the demands of corporate and family life came calling. We’re in the midst of a loneliness epidemic in our country. A former U.S. Surgeon General has said that loneliness is as damaging to our health as smoking. Men are especially vulnerable to the dangers of loneliness. This is because many of us struggle to express our feelings or forge genuine connections with others.

But it’s important to remember that we’re social creatures. True friends are a key component to living a healthy, well-rounded life.  To maintain my relationships, I’ve begun to prioritize them just as I do other important aspects of life. My hangouts, which used to happen spontaneously, are now planned, and logged onto my Outlook and shared family calendar.

The demands of climbing the corporate ladder as a Black man in America can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to come at the expense of our health and well-being. By acknowledging the unique pressures we face and taking proactive steps to prioritize our mental and physical health, we can create a sustainable and fulfilling career. Seeking the right healthcare provider, embracing therapy, and nurturing friendships are just a few ways we can start building resilience against the stress that often accompanies success in corporate America.

At the end of the day, our lives—both professionally and personally—are far more valuable than any career milestone. It’s time for Black men to take control of our health, foster a supportive community, and redefine what success truly means. 

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