Mental Health Stigmas in the African American Community
Mental Health Stigmas in the Black Community
Today mental health has developed into a comprehensive field where providers work with a range of ages, cultures, and illnesses (Tate, 2017). Treatments for mental health issues come in many forms and are offered in many communities. In communities where mental health care is available, community members do not always take advantage of services. Anywhere from 40-60% of those in need of mental health services, do not use them (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). This happens for a number of reasons. Mental health care providers do not work in every community for affordable rates for that community, so treatment accessibility is still an issue. When people cannot afford to easily pay the total cost of needed mental health care services out of pocket or with the aid of health care insurance, then they are less likely to seek any services at all (Nadeem, Lange, Edge, Fongwa, Belin, & Miranda, 2007). In addition to financial restrictions, sometimes community members perceive seeking services in negative ways because their cultural values do not align with definitions of western medicine and its practices. In the African American community, for example, mental health is a contested topic (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008).
What the Stigmas Are & Why They Developed
Members of the black community seek services and complete treatment less often than their white counterparts (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). Even when services are accessible, potential services users will avoid treatment for mental distress. This is done in an attempt to maintain social status. In the black community, needing mental health care services is perceived as socially undesirable and leads to negative social consequences (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). These consequences can include family disapproval and being negatively viewed by others in the community (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). In a qualitative study focusing on stigmas among black consumers, 41% of people recognized they needed treatment, but still could not persuade their families that a real condition existed (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). Without family support in the terms of acknowledgement, black consumers were hesitant to start treatment. In addition to lower-acceptance of mental health illness as a medical condition, stigmas affect African Americans differently. Black men experience more stigmas related to needing services than women do, causing them to delay seeking care for longer periods of time (Dockey.…Clement, 2015) . Regardless of gender, seeking mental health care services in not an encouraged action.
Stigmas have been attached to the action of seeking treatment for various reasons. Most stigmas are related to the questions of why does mental illness happen and what causes it (Dockey.…Clement, 2015). Some beliefs about mental illness include that it stems from individual weaknesses or sinful lifestyles (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). It is also possible that needing treatment is associated with the idea of confinement, as services historically were another way to deny liberties to African Americans, leading blacks to fear the consequences of seeking care outside of personal social motivators (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). One study found that black clients were 23% more likely than their white counterparts to receive diagnoses after interactions with the criminal justice system (Bhui, Ullrich, & Coid, 2014). The association between the justice system and mental health care lays the foundation for fear and suspicion, ruining trust in a service that is supposed to help its consumers. Collectively, community members believe that mental illness is the individual’s fault and responsibility to fix without formal medical treatment (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008).
Looking Forward
It is important for care givers to remember that African Americans face stigma for seeking services and have been socialized to believe needing treatment is a sign of wrong-doing (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). Cultural values influence the ways blacks and other ethnic minorities view mental health care, their willingness to participate in treatments, and acceptance of mental illnesses’ impact on their community specifically. When members of the black community receive services from culturally competent and effective providers, they are more willing to complete treatments and report higher satisfaction with services (Blank, Mahmood, Fox, & Guterbock, 2002).
Studies have also found that African Americans recognize illness and seek treatment at higher rates when services are community led (Knifton, Gervais, Newbigging, Mirza, Quinn, Wilson, & Hunkins-Hutchison, 2013). In a study observing the effectiveness of community led approaches in comparison to the benefits of public education efforts, 80% of participants reported learning more about mental health when participating in the former (Knifton et al, 2013). Such services can be effective because they understand and act according to the values that community holds. Churches or non-profits that work within certain areas have already developed strong ties with community members (Blank, Mahmood, Fox, & Guterbock, 2002). When appropriate, service providers should partner with local organizations to provide care to black communities in a way that they trust and respect. Community led approaches lead to service providers gaining part of the trust, knowledge, and respect local organizations already have (Blank, Mahmood, Fox, & Guterbock, 2002). When working with communities of color and the black community specifically, service providers need to be aware of stigmas and cultural values that influence their interactions with potential service seekers (Knifton, Gervais, Newbigging, Mirza, Quinn, Wilson, & Hunkins-Hutchison, 2013). Culturally mindful practices lead to higher rates of health for clients and success for care providers.
Today mental health has developed into a comprehensive field where providers work with a range of ages, cultures, and illnesses (Tate, 2017). Treatments for mental health issues come in many forms and are offered in many communities. In communities where mental health care is available, community members do not always take advantage of services. Anywhere from 40-60% of those in need of mental health services, do not use them (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). This happens for a number of reasons. Mental health care providers do not work in every community for affordable rates for that community, so treatment accessibility is still an issue. When people cannot afford to easily pay the total cost of needed mental health care services out of pocket or with the aid of health care insurance, then they are less likely to seek any services at all (Nadeem, Lange, Edge, Fongwa, Belin, & Miranda, 2007). In addition to financial restrictions, sometimes community members perceive seeking services in negative ways because their cultural values do not align with definitions of western medicine and its practices. In the African American community, for example, mental health is a contested topic (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008).
What the Stigmas Are & Why They Developed
Members of the black community seek services and complete treatment less often than their white counterparts (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). Even when services are accessible, potential services users will avoid treatment for mental distress. This is done in an attempt to maintain social status. In the black community, needing mental health care services is perceived as socially undesirable and leads to negative social consequences (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). These consequences can include family disapproval and being negatively viewed by others in the community (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). In a qualitative study focusing on stigmas among black consumers, 41% of people recognized they needed treatment, but still could not persuade their families that a real condition existed (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). Without family support in the terms of acknowledgement, black consumers were hesitant to start treatment. In addition to lower-acceptance of mental health illness as a medical condition, stigmas affect African Americans differently. Black men experience more stigmas related to needing services than women do, causing them to delay seeking care for longer periods of time (Dockey.…Clement, 2015) . Regardless of gender, seeking mental health care services in not an encouraged action.
Stigmas have been attached to the action of seeking treatment for various reasons. Most stigmas are related to the questions of why does mental illness happen and what causes it (Dockey.…Clement, 2015). Some beliefs about mental illness include that it stems from individual weaknesses or sinful lifestyles (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). It is also possible that needing treatment is associated with the idea of confinement, as services historically were another way to deny liberties to African Americans, leading blacks to fear the consequences of seeking care outside of personal social motivators (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). One study found that black clients were 23% more likely than their white counterparts to receive diagnoses after interactions with the criminal justice system (Bhui, Ullrich, & Coid, 2014). The association between the justice system and mental health care lays the foundation for fear and suspicion, ruining trust in a service that is supposed to help its consumers. Collectively, community members believe that mental illness is the individual’s fault and responsibility to fix without formal medical treatment (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008).
Looking Forward
It is important for care givers to remember that African Americans face stigma for seeking services and have been socialized to believe needing treatment is a sign of wrong-doing (Alvidrez, Snowden, & Kaiser, 2008). Cultural values influence the ways blacks and other ethnic minorities view mental health care, their willingness to participate in treatments, and acceptance of mental illnesses’ impact on their community specifically. When members of the black community receive services from culturally competent and effective providers, they are more willing to complete treatments and report higher satisfaction with services (Blank, Mahmood, Fox, & Guterbock, 2002).
Studies have also found that African Americans recognize illness and seek treatment at higher rates when services are community led (Knifton, Gervais, Newbigging, Mirza, Quinn, Wilson, & Hunkins-Hutchison, 2013). In a study observing the effectiveness of community led approaches in comparison to the benefits of public education efforts, 80% of participants reported learning more about mental health when participating in the former (Knifton et al, 2013). Such services can be effective because they understand and act according to the values that community holds. Churches or non-profits that work within certain areas have already developed strong ties with community members (Blank, Mahmood, Fox, & Guterbock, 2002). When appropriate, service providers should partner with local organizations to provide care to black communities in a way that they trust and respect. Community led approaches lead to service providers gaining part of the trust, knowledge, and respect local organizations already have (Blank, Mahmood, Fox, & Guterbock, 2002). When working with communities of color and the black community specifically, service providers need to be aware of stigmas and cultural values that influence their interactions with potential service seekers (Knifton, Gervais, Newbigging, Mirza, Quinn, Wilson, & Hunkins-Hutchison, 2013). Culturally mindful practices lead to higher rates of health for clients and success for care providers.
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