How a Marathon Documentary Explores Black Men’s Mental Health

A decade later, these friends are featured in a new documentary series, “Inspiration by the Mile”, produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company. The series follows their preparation for the Boston Marathon and explores their experiences with mental health and suicide among Black men.

The documentary highlights the challenges Black men face regarding mental health, with licensed therapist Kier Gaines addressing common misconceptions. Despite increasing suicide rates among Black Americans, mental health care remains less accessible due to systemic inequities and stigma. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the suicide rate for non-Hispanic Black people increased by 19.2 percent between 2018 and 2021. For Black youths and young adults between 10 to 24 years old, suicides increased 36.6 percent, while 25-to-44-year-olds saw an increase of 22.9 percent