Mental health challenges impact everyone, but young Black men face unique struggles. For many, the pressure to conform to limited stereotypes, coupled with a lack of role models who reflect their experiences, can lead to feelings of isolation and self-doubt. In fact, Black adults are 20 percent more likely to report serious psychological distress than their white counterparts.
Early Struggles and Identity Formation
Trey Baker’s mental health journey began during his formative middle and high school years. Growing up, he struggled with identity and belonging due to a lack of Black representation in education.
“I was trying to understand the fullness of my Blackness. I didn’t always have teachers that looked like me. In fact, my first Black teacher didn’t come until I went to college,” Baker tells BlackDoctor.org. “I struggled with understanding the full history of where I come from, who I come from, and realizing that this was not always taught in depth.”
Eventually, Baker began to question who he was and how he saw himself.
Like many young Black men, Baker was told that basketball was his “way out.”
“My father played, and I love the game to this day, but I felt boxed in. I felt like, particularly in our community, we’re given these stereotypical pathways to success,” Baker says.
Baker acknowledges his first Black teacher, who served as a mentor and sounding board, for educating him about his heritage.
“I began to explore the attributes of my Black ancestry, my African ancestry, and my Black history, which allowed me to see myself in a fuller sense. I realized I’m not just a one-dimensional human being,” he adds.
Baker also found solace in learning about the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement, and prominent figures.
“Learning about figures like Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, and Sonia Sanchez opened my eyes to who we are as a people. That has been a dynamic part of my mental health journey: learning where I come from, affirming that, and finding people who look like me to empower that within my journey,” Baker notes.
The Power of Spoken Word and Creative Expression
Another key element of Baker’s mental health journey was discovering spoken word poetry as a powerful outlet for self-expression.
“Initially, spoken word poetry was a safe outlet for me to express what I was thinking. It was a hub for self-creation and discovery—helping me process what I was seeing in society and the internal conversations I was having. Poetry became my first outlet,” Baker adds.
Baker began sharing his poetry with trusted adults in his circle, who encouraged him to keep going. “They told me my voice mattered and that I needed to share it. That led me to participate in open mics and eventually get opportunities to travel and perform,” he adds.
His passion for poetry has now evolved into a successful career, where he’s found purpose and utilizes his platform to inspire others.
“Poetry helped me find purpose. It showed me the power of my voice and allowed me to express my creativity freely. I think there’s something special about performing, but what’s even more rewarding is giving the art form back to the youth,” the two-time Emmy-nominated and award-winning spoken word artist shares. “In a time when we’re seeing alarming rates of suicide among Black youth and 1 in 3 Black adults experiencing mental health challenges without receiving the care they need, we have to ask: how do we prevent this? For me, the answer is unlocking the potential of students, helping them discover their own voices, and using poetry as a tool for self-expression.”
Advocacy Work and Mentorship
Baker’s advocacy extends beyond personal expression; he is deeply involved in mental health initiatives. One of his most notable partnerships is with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and their Sharing Hope program. This initiative focuses on mental health awareness within communities of color, providing resources, support, and platforms for individuals to share their stories and facilitate conversations around mental health.
“I first got involved with NAMI Sharing Hope after performing at a superintendent’s event in Washington, D.C. Dawn Brown, the director of cross-cultural innovation and engagement at NAMI, was speaking at the event. Before that, I hadn’t heard of NAMI,” Baker says. “It was an incredible opportunity to learn from her and see how NAMI is engaging deeply in mental health conversations within the Black community. Dawn opened the door for me to be part of this movement. One of my favorite words is “hope,” and in many of my poems, I talk about the dynamics of hope. NAMI’s approach to hope isn’t passive; it’s something we actively create.”
Baker also highlights his work with My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBK), an initiative of the Obama Foundation aimed at empowering boys and young men of color. Baker describes the program as a lifesaver, offering leadership development and a supportive space for vulnerable conversations, challenging the societal pressures that tell Black men to suppress their emotions.
“As a graduate and rising senior, MBK was life-changing for me. Historically, Black men have been told not to cry or show emotion. MBK provided a safe space for me to have those vulnerable conversations, while also engaging in leadership development that supported my mental health journey,” Baker notes, crediting his mentor Christopher Crater of the Obama Foundation.
Impact on Education and the Youth
Baker is also passionate about changing the educational landscape to better support students’ mental health.
“As someone who went on a journey to discover my own creativity, I would encourage schools to dive into using creativity and critical thinking in conversations as a way to access social-emotional learning (SEL). We live in an age where children have so much access to information—social media, the internet—and in many ways, that contributes to mental health challenges,” Baker notes.
Baker also advocates for schools to create safe spaces where students can engage in meaningful conversations, and learn about the world around them.
“When we focus on that, we’re not just creating better human beings; we’re building a better society. Another point I’d like to make is that we can’t teach children the way we did five years ago. After going through a global pandemic and seeing how mental health plays out in education, the traditional model of one teacher with 30 students is flawed,” Baker adds. “I believe students would benefit from a team-teaching model. As a teaching artist myself, I see the power in having multiple educators in the classroom. It allows for a more holistic approach, where students can go to different trusted adults, feel supported, and connect with people they relate to.”
Through his work with various school districts across the country, including his collaboration with Scholastic on the “Our Greatness is Our Story” Spoken Word Program, Baker, who has been with Scholastic since he was 18, provides students with tools to discover their voices and celebrate their uniqueness. This program uses poetry to foster self-discovery and positive affirmation, culminating in students presenting their poetry to their school communities, an experience that empowers them to command their narratives.
“We’re helping students learn about their core values, create personal mission statements, and affirm themselves in positive ways. Many students are quick to point out their weaknesses, but we’re creating an environment where they can recognize their greatness,” Baker shares. “We’ve partnered with school districts from Seattle to Prince George’s County, Maryland, and DC Public Schools. At the end of the program, students present their final poetry pieces to their school community—it’s an incredible experience.”
Baker is also part of a Chicago-based organization called The Healing CHI, which focuses on yoga and mindfulness meditation to tap into people’s mental health journeys.
“I’ve done sessions with them, and though it was initially uncomfortable to sit with my thoughts for so long, it was a healthy challenge. They have great resources on mindfulness and meditation that can help people slow down and be present,” Baker says.
Moving forward, Baker remains committed to destigmatizing conversations around mental health, particularly within the Black community, and equipping young people with the tools to express themselves and thrive. His message is clear: through creativity, mentorship, and community support, we can foster healing, build stronger communities, and uplift the next generation of leaders.
