Media Contact
T-Kea Blackman, MPS, CPRS, RPS
Baltimore’s youngest mayor in over a century to deliver keynote address at Inaugural Black Mental Health Awards.
Baltimore, MD (September 04, 2026) – Black People Die By Suicide Too (BPDBST), a grassroots organization dedicated to Black mental health awareness, access, and education, is proud to announce that Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott will serve as the keynote speaker for the inaugural Black Mental Health Awards (BMHA) — a fundraising event that celebrates community leaders making a difference. BMHA will be hosted by Patrice Washington, founder of Redefining Wealth, and held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Martin’s West in Baltimore, Maryland, during National Suicide Prevention Month, under the theme “Honoring Trailblazers, Empowering Futures: Celebrating Excellence in Black Mental Health.” BPDBST aims to raise $50,000 to further its mission of offering free and affordable peer support services and educational workshops.
Mayor Scott is the 52nd mayor of Baltimore and the youngest person to hold the position in over a century. He is committed to ending gun violence, investing in young people, restoring trust in government, and building a better, more equitable Baltimore for all. Growing up in Park Heights, Mayor Scott witnessed firsthand the effects of disinvestment in Baltimore’s communities and youth — an experience that shaped his administration’s priorities, resulting in substantial investments in education and recreation, including 14 new or renovated schools, 9 new or renovated recreation centers, and $100 million dedicated to previously stalled housing projects in underserved neighborhoods.
During his first term, Mayor Scott spearheaded historic reductions in violence — including a 40% decrease in homicides — through Baltimore’s first-ever Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan. The city also saw an 18% decrease in vacant properties, reaching the lowest number in two decades. In November 2024, he made history as the first Baltimore mayor in 20 years to win re-election.
While the event is sold out, individuals can donate via Givebutter.
About Black People Die By Suicide Too (BPDBST):
Founded in 2023, BPDBST is a peer-led non-profit organization that focuses on suicide prevention and mental health awareness in the Black community. Through education, advocacy, and peer support, BPDBST addresses the unique challenges Black individuals face related to mental health and suicide, working to create safe and supportive spaces for healing and connection.
About Black Mental Health Awards (BMHA): The Black Mental Health Awards is more than an event — it is a movement. This one-of-a-kind evening will spotlight the critical issue of Black suicide, raise awareness, and help fund free and low-cost, culturally responsive mental health resources for the Black community. The BMHA celebrates and honors Black mental health professionals who have dedicated their lives to supporting, healing, and transforming lives. By recognizing their invaluable contributions, the organization aims to inspire future generations of healers and help dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community.
