Supporting Black mental health across generations

There's a significant historical legacy in many Black communities, primarily born of necessity, that emphasizes resilience, strength, and pushing through obstacles, says Tami Adedokun, second-year UCalgary Nursing student and immigrant from Nigeria.  

This is what assistant professor Bemi Lawal, R.N., MScN/ADM, in the Faculty of Nursing is examining through her research and advocacy on mental health for Black students at UCalgary.  

As Adedokun puts it: “Cultural and generational attitudes create a significant, yet often silent, social pressure.” Which from his experience frames discussions of mental health struggles for Black students as a sign of weakness or as a moral failure.  

“I find myself falling into this mindset constantly, forgetting to care and check in with myself,” he says.  

Building belonging and support for Black nursing students

To better understand and support these experiences, Lawal is collecting data on strategies that promote the mental health of Black students, including community education, recreation, exercise, and caregiver support. Her work aims to identify practical approaches that help students manage stress, build resilience, and thrive both academically and personally.  

This is more important than ever as Black nursing students begin their practica which are supervised clinical placements where students gain hands-on experience in health-care settings.  

Through research with her students and alumni, Lawal identified a recurring challenge: Some students felt they were experiencing racism during their practica and needed support developing coping mechanisms. 

Adedokun felt a similar way.

“Practicums are integral to our education, but they present unique challenges for Black nursing students. Given the severe underrepresentation of Black students within the Faculty of Nursing and across other Canadian universities, we often enter these clinical settings feeling isolated or alone.”  

Lawal, as a longtime advocate of African and Caribbean students, saw this missing piece for her students, like Adedokun. This inspired her to help Adedokun organize the UCalgary chapter of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA – UCalgary). Adedokun is now the founder and co-president.  

Other groups at UCalgary include the Nigerian Students’ Association (NSA), where Adedokun holds the role of senior vice-president of academics. This is also an organization that Lawal supports and connects with for her continuing research to help black students thrive on campus.  

“These communities are vital for Black students on campus for a variety of reasons, whether it is for revitalization of their culture, for personal and professional development, or to gain a sense of belonging,” says Adedokun.  

In the community

While Lawal is a strong advocate for mental health within the Black student community, her specialty is in the care of aging adults.   

In her early career in Calgary, when visiting older adults' residences, she found those from Africa weren’t thriving in the homes. She noticed that physically they were doing OK, but what was missing was the social aspect. Recreational advisors and facilitators had no knowledge of Black culture, and therefore, that support was missing for their mental health and well-being.  

This led Lawal to team up with other professionals from the Black and African community to establish the Calgary Black Seniors’ Foundation, initially using their own resources to get it off the ground. Now funded by grants, this foundation is committed to enriching the lives of Black seniors.  

Because just like her research and work with Black nursing students, Lawal understands that “you take care of yourself and meet the needs of your community.”  

Continue the conversation 

This Black History Month, professors Bemi Lawal and Dr. Bukola Salami, alongside Visiting Professor Dr. Mary Ani Amponsah, invite the community into a timely discussion on mental health and well-being across the life course for people of African descent. Grounded in both global research and local realities, the event centres community, care, and collective action. 

• Date and time: Feb. 5, 2026, 5 – 7 p.m.
• Location: Craigie Hall, Block CHC 119