ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mental health in African-American communities took center stage over the weekend in St. Petersburg.

An event called “Healing While Black" addressed the shared struggles most Black Americans have, both young and old, while offering solutions that could ultimately save a life.

The Sunday brunch ended with participants singing and hugging. These were the sights and sounds of a community healing, part of a four-day seminar that not only brought awareness to mental health in the Black community, but also to seek help when necessary.

Dr. LaDonna Butler says these connections are more important now more than ever.

“When people have connection,” she said, “they’re more wiling to be contributing members of the community and feel accountable and responsible for keeping our neighbors, our families safe.”

According to the National Institute of Health, Blacks are 20% more likely to have serious psychological distress than Whites.

Jeff Copeland, who owns a bar/restaurant in South St. Pete, said he didn't realize the role he could play in helping out teens until he got a text message from a teen that read more like a cry for help.

“His text to me said, ‘I want you to help me become a man," Copeland said, “so that just threw me overboard. There was not much more I could do after that. I was like, 'I had chills.'”

But Copeland did do something. Although by law he couldn’t hire a 13-year old, with approval from his mother, he does let DeKeron straighten up here and there in exchange for buying him new clothes for school. It’s food not only for DeKeron’s soul, but for Copeland’s as well.

“You gotta pay attention to our children these days.” he said. “We’re not listening to them enough and that’s not enough.”

DeKeron added, “I wanna be like a person that inspires people or like give back to the community.”