During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Rev. Dr. F Willis Johnson, a spiritual entrepreneur and scholar-practitioner, shared a personal reflection on the complex mental health challenges faced by African American men. He highlighted that mental health struggles experienced by this group are not solely psychological but are deeply intertwined with cultural, historical, spiritual, and physiological factors.

Johnson emphasized the paradox Black men often navigate in American society: while they are highly visible in areas like sports, entertainment, and politics, they remain largely invisible when it comes to expressing vulnerability and emotional distress. Societal expectations have long encouraged emotional suppression among Black men as a coping mechanism against systemic racism, heightened surveillance, and workplace bias. This suppression has contributed to persistent rates of anxiety, depression, substance dependency, and suicide among Black men, despite ongoing stigma around seeking therapy in many communities.

Johnson described loneliness as a significant but often unacknowledged issue, defining it not simply as physical solitude but as the emotional gap between internal experiences and what one feels safe sharing. He noted that survival, which often involves emotional stamina, is not equivalent to wellness, which requires active attention to mental and emotional health.

Johnson’s insights emerged not only from therapy but also through physical activity, specifically his involvement with HYROX, a global fitness race combining endurance running with functional strength exercises. He described how rigorous training prompted a transformative process, encouraging a candid self-reflection that transcends mere physical exertion. The repetitive challenges of the workout—ranging from rowing and sled pushes to burpees and lunges—served as a metaphor for confronting mental and emotional limits, fostering resilience, discipline, and self-trust.

Beyond the physical benefits, Johnson noted that consistent exercise helped regulate stress hormones, improve sleep, and enhance mood, while restoring a sense of agency often eroded by mental health struggles. He stressed that while exercise acts as a valuable intervention, it does not replace the need for therapy, emotional honesty, spiritual support, meaningful relationships, or medical care.

Johnson called for expanding spaces where Black men can express vulnerability without judgment and where mental health discussions are normalized within communities, including churches. He argued for reimagining masculinity to embrace emotional openness and advocated for acknowledging the intrinsic value of Black men beyond their societal productivity.

Ultimately, Johnson framed his personal achievements in HYROX competitions as acts of resistance against despair and societal narratives that reduce Black men’s visibility to crisis moments. Each race finish, he said, symbolizes survival, ongoing growth, and the pursuit of joy amid adversity.