Nathan doesn’t get a pass for failing to communicate that he needed space—that’s on him—but to call depression a bad mood is code for, “I don’t think your problems are all that serious.” Who wants to open up to someone after being met with that kind of response?The things we communicate to Black men matter.

But in so many words, he let Issa know. “Validating that experience of mental illness by believing the person and listening to them and not placing undue pressure on them is really supportive,” he shared.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This season’s episode “Lowkey Happy” highlighted Lawrence and Issa’s incredible growth since they separated at the … and their strong demeanors and dismiss the idea that they could actually be struggling with anxiety, depression, or even grief. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.I liked Nathan from the moment he and his Southern drawl hopped into Issa’s party Lyft.I was over him when he got ghost. We can ask for them to open up to us all day, but if our actions don’t support what we are saying (that this is a safe space), it may not be effective. I didn’t actually believe that mental health was the real reason for his disappearance until Andrew confirmed it on Sunday’s episode. Kendrick is best known for his role on HBO's comedy series "Insecure," where his character Nathan grapples with mental health and lives with bipolar disorder. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. “Simple statements of belief and reminders that you’re not going anywhere or leaving can alleviate fears of negative outcomes due to the mental illness.”.Both Sidney and Dr. Bolden agree that Black men secluding themselves for long periods of time is not healthy. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. All of these options can serve as alternatives to seclusion as Black men work to create new social norms on their end.As a society, we have to be better about creating new social norms around Black men and mental health as well. But as,As Lawrence’s father tells him in season three, “You gotta.A weekly newsletter that dives into cultural news in need of a strong opinion.Please Stop Sending Me ‘I Hope You’re Well’ Emails — I’m Not,It’s Not Polls We Distrust — It’s White People,Every Single ‘Chappelle’s Show’ Sketch (Except One), Ranked,Yes, I’m A Black Writer — But I Can’t Write About Race Anymore. Both are dangerous brain and psychological disorders that can be life-threatening.Last season, Nathan and Issa had connected, and then he suddenly ghosted her for about a month. These cookies do not store any personal information.Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Minimizing that or blaming a partner for their experiences makes them feel unsafe in their relationship and can even make them avoid getting medical and therapeutic help.This season, when Nathan talked in more depth about being bipolar, Issa was far more receptive and compassionate, showing how this relationship has grown in maturity. But they are human. But we all have to do better. This realization reminded me how commonplace it is for us, as a society, to forget that Black men go through mental and emotional challenges too.It’s so easy for us to look at Black men (.) Insecure has always contended with mental health and relationships, although it hasn’t always handled them perfectly. It’s often visible when people throw the term around casually, describing negative personality traits like selfishness or cruelty as bipolar. “Mental health issues are related to chemical imbalances and mood disorders that are independent of individuals.”,Dr. Society focuses more on punishing Black men than healing them.”,I don’t have the solution to how we change the larger societal problems facing Black men and their mental health, but I do believe that one actionable step we all can take is to be more welcoming to the mental health needs of the Black men in our lives. “Black men’s ability to show vulnerability is often constricted by their social norms or environment.”.We have to start creating social norms and environments that allow Black men the freedom to express themselves and work through their challenges.

As long as I see someone willing to work, I’m willing to work with them.”,Relationships are hard work, and relationships with mental illness are even harder. What we ought to be doing is embracing the aspects of mental health that impact so many of us.”.This season’s episode “Lowkey Happy” highlighted Lawrence and Issa’s incredible growth since they separated at the end of season one — a heartbreaking split caused by Lawrence’s years of struggling with depression and Issa’s unfaithfulness. Anthony J. Smith, PhD, a Black psychologist based in Durham, North Carolina, says that the stigma against bipolar disorder is extremely pervasive. But depression, and certainly bipolar depression, is much more than a bad mood. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. And in many ways, we don’t give them room to be. October 2, 2018 by Perri Konecky. “I don’t know how to explain it,” he said, “but sometimes I just get really down and really negative, and I just can’t talk to people sometimes, and I didn’t want to put you through that… I wasn’t thinking straight.”,When I heard that explanation last season, I immediately suspected he had bipolar disorder. Sunday’s penultimate episode of HBO’s “Insecure” was titled “Lowkey Trying” and this was certainly evident in Kendrick Sampson’s character, Nathan.We discover more about his season 3 disappearance when he tells Issa that he doesn’t just struggle with depression, but that he was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder.