TY - JOUR
T1 - “We’re Going Through a Lot of Struggles That People Don’t Even Know About”
T2 - The Need to Understand African American Males’ Help-Seeking for Mental Health on Multiple Levels
AU - Lindsey, Michael A.
AU - Marcell, Arik V.
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Young adult Black males face challenges related to addressing their mental health needs, yet there is much more to know about their help-seeking experiences. Twenty-seven Black males, recruited from four community-based organizations, participated in four focus groups to explore perceptions of help-seeking for mental health. Identified themes, which function at individual, social network, community, and health care system levels, may facilitate or hinder Black males’ mental health help-seeking. Themes included (a) “taking care of it oneself” as opposed to seeking help from someone; (b) issues engaging sources of help, including the ability to trust providers or the relationship closeness with social network members; and (c) “tipping points” that activate help-seeking to avert crises. Study findings provide initial evidence about the importance of addressing mental health interventions for Black males on multiple levels beyond the individual including engaging men’s social supports, community, and the health care system.
AB - Young adult Black males face challenges related to addressing their mental health needs, yet there is much more to know about their help-seeking experiences. Twenty-seven Black males, recruited from four community-based organizations, participated in four focus groups to explore perceptions of help-seeking for mental health. Identified themes, which function at individual, social network, community, and health care system levels, may facilitate or hinder Black males’ mental health help-seeking. Themes included (a) “taking care of it oneself” as opposed to seeking help from someone; (b) issues engaging sources of help, including the ability to trust providers or the relationship closeness with social network members; and (c) “tipping points” that activate help-seeking to avert crises. Study findings provide initial evidence about the importance of addressing mental health interventions for Black males on multiple levels beyond the individual including engaging men’s social supports, community, and the health care system.
KW - African American males
KW - help-seeking
KW - mental health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866756752&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84866756752&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1557988312441520
DO - 10.1177/1557988312441520
M3 - Article
C2 - 22457264
AN - SCOPUS:84866756752
VL - 6
SP - 354
EP - 364
JO - American Journal of Men's Health
JF - American Journal of Men's Health
SN - 1557-9883
IS - 5
ER -