How Black people in Buffalo can utilize free mental health clinics after Tops shooting

Marquel Slaughter
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

BUFFALO — Is there truly a stigma surrounding Black people and mental health?

"The stigma is real. To me it's just another shaming tool — something utilized to work against us," Melissa Archer, psychiatric nurse who runs NY Project Hope at the Buffalo Urban League, said.

May 14th's racially-motivated mass killing at the Jefferson Avenue Tops supermarket was a traumatic crisis. Black people were targeted by a white supremacist, who killed Celestine Chaney, Roberta A. Drury, Andre Mackniel, Katherine Massey, Margus Morrison, Geraldine TalleyHeyward Patterson, Aaron Salter, Ruth Whitfield and Pearl Young, and wounded Christopher Braden, Zaire Goodman and Jennifer Warrington. 

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Buffalonians, especially Black Buffalonians, are urged to seek mental health counseling. Many providers began offering free sessions soon after the racially-motivated mass shooting that left three wounded victims, as well as the 10 dead.

The Buffalo Urban League and the Erie County Department of Mental Health are just two WNY organizations providing free mental health sessions.

Free mental health counseling sessions is being offered by the Erie County Department of Mental Health through May 27 at Johnnie B. Wiley.

On Sunday, BUL and ECDMH worked together to offer a free, drop-in mental health clinic at Johnnie B. Wiley, about four blocks from Tops on Jefferson and Best Street.

"What happened on Saturday was not a random act of violence in which our entire community would experience the rise of fear. This was a targeted act of violence specifically toward Black people. We need to acknowledge that," deputy Erie County executive Maria Whyte said. "The generational trauma that will come from having been targeted based on the color of your skin ... is something that we have to grapple with to properly heal."

More from this writer:Tops, Jefferson Ave. and Buffalo's epicenter of Black culture | Column

'Slow trickle'

The counseling clinics weren't an immediate hit.

On Monday, Rev. Julian Cook, who preaches at the 101-year-old Macedonia Baptist Church, said very few people took advantage of the clinics when they first became available that weekend.

"People are still in shock. ... It's been a small trickle," Cook said.

Archer said half of her BUL team helped at Johnnie B. Wiley on Sunday. BUL counselors only talked to three people that day, she said.

According to Whyte, 35 people came to the free clinic Sunday, and dozens arrived Monday.

"Don't let the stigma that's often associated with mental health counseling stop you. Honestly, that's nonsense," Whyte said. "We have this resource for you. We want you to use it."

Archer named two reasons for the "slow trickle": the ethnicities of the counselors, and the location of the clinic. ECDMH apparently had all white counselors Sunday. BUL made it clear that the lack of minority counselors was a problem.

Rev. Julian Cook is the senior pastor at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church , Buffalo, NY on May 16, 2022.

"We just went through something horrific ... and you want us to talk to someone that represents a culture that did this to us? Black folks weren't going for it." Archer said.

BUL has a diverse staff of crisis counselors who speak seven languages across seven represented cultures. Their ages range from 21-75. ECDMH took Archer's advice and brought in more people of color Monday.

"Part of the challenge is that we don't have a lot of mental health counselors who are people of color, but that's not true anymore," Whyte said.

ECDMH's free clinics are available at Johnnie B. Wiley from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Friday, May 27.

► More resources for those affected by the Buffalo shooting

Street engagement

BUL's brand new Community Resource Center opened Wednesday on Glenwood Avenue and Jefferson. But the new building isn't going to keep counselors from hitting the streets.

Johnnie B. Wiley isn't close enough for Archer. She is sensitive to mourning people's willingness to travel for their services.

Crowds of people chalk down the Landon Street sidewalk with words of condolences Tuesday, May 17, 2022 in Buffalo, New York.

So instead, BUL met the people on the streets. While people cried and mourned on the blocks surrounding Tops, BUL was there to talk, listen and hug. Archer said the outreach effort worked, and her counselors spoke to more people throughout the week.

Tuesday night, BUL handed out information at a vigil on Riley, where civil rights activist Shaun King comforted Buffalonians with his allyship. King challenged President Joe Biden — who visited victim's families in Buffalo that afternoon — to confront white supremacy, and prove it by allocating resources in their budgets.

Shaun King challenged government officials to prioritize confronting white supremacy at a community vigil on Riley Street and Jefferson Avenue Tuesday, May 17, 2022 in Buffalo.

"It's not enough to tell this city you care," King said, of Biden's visit.

The Erie County Department of Mental Health's clinic will remain at Johnnie B. Wiley. They have a 24/7 crisis service hotline for those who can't physically come in.

"I'll wake up tomorrow and still be in my white skin, which will afford me some amount of both privilege and safety that the African American community was not afforded Saturday," Whyte said.

FeedMore WNY

About a mile from the site, Tops Markets and FeedMore WNY had tractor trailer full of food and toiletries for neighbors at the Resource Council of Western New York on E. Ferry St. Free groceries will be available for the community every day from 9a - 9p until the end of May.

Buffalo Urban League still collaborates with Johnnie B. Wiley, including FeedMore WNY, which has a drive-thru food distribution center in the stadium's parking lot.

BUL helped FeedMore WNY deliver groceries to nearby seniors, then offered a mental health piece at their door to check on them.

FeedMore WNY public relations manager Catherine Shick said the stadium is perfect because it's in the "heart of the community".

FeedMore WNY's food distribution at Johnnie B. Wiley on Jefferson Avenue offered Buffalo residents fruits, vegetables and other items to support the area after the Top tragedy Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

The organization housed one of its food distribution centers at the stadium. The other center is on East Ferry Street. They are passing out goods from 1-9 p.m. through Friday, May 27.

"What's bringing me hope and inspiration is seeing our organization, volunteers, partners and individuals coming together and lifting each other up," Shick said.

Items like apples, shelf-stable milk and canned tuna were available at FeedMore WNY's drive-thru. Those looking to donate or volunteer can visit the FeedMore WNY hub on 91 Holt Street or at Feedmorewny.org.

Email Marquel Slaughter at mslaughter1@gannett.com and follow his Twitter @MarquelSports. Sign up for our high school sports newsletter.