James Donaldson on Mental Health – Why School Has More Black Kids Thinking About Suicide

New national data shows steep rises in Black youth suicide, and experts say racism in schools is a major factor that’s costing them their lives and learning

by Quintessa Williams

Overview:

A recent study found that Black K-12 students are experiencing a mental health crisis due to systemic racism in schools, with 40% of Black youth ages 13-17 seriously considering suicide in the past year. The study also found that nearly 1 in 3 Black youth who needed mental health care didn’t receive it, and Black boys are among the least likely to receive care. Experts say schools must create welcoming and inclusive learning environments to support the mental and emotional health of students and the communities around them.

In November 2024, a Jacksonville, Florida, mother watched her 16-year-old son unravel.

Already the target of racist bullying at school, he was one of many Black students across the country who received racist text messages after the presidential election. It hit hard: the teenager became withdrawn, afraid to return to school, and was overwhelmed by a feeling that he didn’t belong.

He eventually returned a few weeks later, but much like the bullying, the school never addressed it publicly. The school and the world, his mother said, “just moved on from the story.” 

But the situation almost cost him his life.

“He told me later that he didn’t want to go back to school and that the reason he gave me his phone was that he had been thinking about ending his life,” says his mother, who asked Word in Black to remain anonymous to protect their privacy. “And that’s when I just broke down.”

The mother’s story is not an anomaly. Black K-12 students across the country are battling a growing mental health crisis that experts say is connected to their school environments. 

According to a new report from The AAKOMA Project, a nonprofit organization that helps address the mental health needs of youth of color, more than 40% of Black youth ages 13-17 seriously considered suicide in the past year. At the same time, 38% self-harmed in some way, and more than 16% attempted suicide at least once. 

“The fact that this is not a national crisis with all hands on deck trying to solve it is unconscionable to me,” says Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, a clinical psychologist and founder of The AAKOMA Project. “That the needs of so many Black youth have gone unnoticed — and remain sorely under-addressed — is devastating.”

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

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Schools as a Source of Racial Trauma

From disproportionately high discipline rates to biased teachers, experts say systemic racism in schools chips away at a young person’s sense of safety and self-worth. In AAKOMA’s 2025 State of Youth Mental Health report, 21% of Black youths reported suffering racial trauma from teachers and other school employees. Nearly 30% said they experienced racial discrimination at the hands of school police. 

“This is significant as it means that schools continue to be unwelcoming and unsafe places for many Black youth,” Breland-Noble says. “It shows that bias and discrimination hurts, and that these issues often hurt Black students at disproportionately higher rates than other students.”

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The report also found that three-quarters of Black youth say they feel like a burden to others, and about as many reported feeling as though they don’t belong — feelings commonly linked to suicidal ideations. 

Breland-Noble adds that society, schools included, often compounds the racial trauma of Black youth by minimizing (and at times flat-out ignoring) the emotional hurt associated with the daily microaggressions and bias they experience. 

“Black youth need to feel seen, heard, and valued for exactly who they are,” she says. “But many of them are growing up in schools that ignore their reality and deny their pain.” 

The Price of Unmet Mental Health Needs

Despite the warning signs, many Black students still aren’t getting help.

According to the AAKOMA report, nearly 1 in 3 Black youth who needed mental health care didn’t receive it. For Black boys, the picture is even more alarming: they are among the least likely to receive care, and are more likely to view mental illness as a weakness. Breland-Noble says that belief is shaped by cultural stigma and a lack of safe spaces to express vulnerability.

Academic performance has long been linked to feelings of support at school. A recent Rutgers University study found that, as Black K-12 students’ sense of belonging decreased, their risk for suicidal ideation and attempts climbed by as much as 35%. 

Black youth need to feel seen, heard, and valued for exactly who they are,” she says. “But many of them are growing up in schools that ignore their reality and deny their pain.Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, psychologist and founder of the AAKOMA Project

“Mental health is a foundational aspect of the educational experience, and parents, teachers, and caregivers are the gatekeepers of that care,” Breland-Noble says. “So when stigma still exists in our schools and communities — especially around our youth (especially boys) needing help — it prevents access before it even begins.”

Rutgers researchers concluded that feeling accepted, valued, included, and encouraged in school could mitigate suicidal risk among Black kids. Breland-Noble agrees, adding that school districts must provide services that consider Black kids’ unique needs.

“Depression, anxiety, and suicidality do not all look the same in diverse youth,” she says. “Until we understand how these concerns manifest in different cultural groups, we cannot begin to develop effective approaches and interventions to support all youth.”

Healing Must Be the Goal

If schools want to care for Black students, Breland-Noble says, they must “create welcoming and inclusive learning environments that support the mental and emotional health of our students and the communities around them.” That means affirming their identities, rejecting punitive discipline models and design grassroots, culturally responsive systems of care. 

She points to models like the Comer School Development Program in Connecticut and LeBron James’ I PROMISE School in Ohio as examples of wraparound systems that treat students as whole people.

“A healthy child learns best,” she says. “And ‘healthy’ must include mental health.”

Back in Jacksonville, the mother of the 16-year-old says that she still carries the weight of what almost happened — and hopes stories like hers will finally be taken more seriously. 

“It takes a village, and I think schools need to be a part of that, too,” she adds. “Say something. Do something. Acknowledge what’s happening. Our kids can’t keep paying the price alone.”

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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.

James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.

In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.

He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.

James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!

For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:

www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)

James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.

If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org