“We Are Our Own Counselor”: Resilience, Risk Behaviors, and Mental Health Service Utilization among Young African American Men

Bauer, Alexandria; Christensen, Kelsey; Bowe-Thompson, Carole; Lister, Sheila; Aduloju-Ajijola, Natasha; Berkley‐Patton, Jannette

doi:10.1080/08964289.2020.1729087

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…Interestingly, participants proposed education about symptoms and treatment for depression and suicide but did not mention trauma or symptoms of PTSD. This may be an indication of young Black men’s conceptualization of trauma and resulting symptoms, particularly hypervigilance, as common and unavoidable—especially given risk for recurrent exposure to violence, serious injury, and death, as noted by young Black men in previous studies (Bauer et al, 2020; Rich et al, 2018; Rich & Grey, 2005; Richardson et al, 2020; Smith Lee et al, 2020; Smith & Patton, 2016). Community-based educational interventions that promote individual-level mental health literacy—with a focus on trauma as a potential contributing source for multiple disorders (e.g., PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use; Voisin et al, 2016; Wolff & Shi, 2012), plus strategies to increase engagement in mental health care (e.g., accessing treatment, informing treatment expectations), could be a vital next step in addressing mental health disparities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Young Black men have also endorsed mistrust of mental health providers and racial injustice (Lindsey, Joe, & Nebbitt, 2010; Watkins & Neighbors, 2007). Studies have also documented the ways that trauma-related symptoms manifest among young Black men, with a notable cultural difference that trauma exposure, particularly witnessing violence, injury, or death, is a “normal” part of life, in part due to repeated exposure (Bauer et al, 2020; Smith & Patton, 2016). This notion, in combination with high rates of hypervigilance (i.e., staying “on point”; Rich & Grey, 2005; Smith Lee et al, 2020; Smith & Patton, 2016), likely contributes to difficulty determining whether symptoms are severe enough to warrant treatment, which was also identified as a barrier to treatment among young Black men (Watson, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Community needs and recommendations for multilevel mental health interventions among young Black men with previous trauma exposure.

Bauer¹,

Pean²,

Lalwani³

et al. 2022

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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Objective: To report on multilevel strategies for addressing community mental health disparities among young Black/African American men, who are at increased risk for trauma exposure yet have a lower likelihood of receiving mental health care compared to other young adults. Method: This was a secondary data analysis from a larger mixed-methods study that was conducted in two phases, using an exploratory sequential design. Participants in Phase 1 were 55 Black men aged 18–30 years old (M = 22.55, SD = 3.9), who had experienced one or more lifetime traumatic events. Relevant for the present study, participants completed focus groups that elicited community needs and recommended strategies for promoting community mental health. The social–ecological model (including individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy levels) was used to guide interpretation of these qualitative findings. Results: Focus groups recommended intervention strategies from individual/interpersonal levels (e.g., educational resources, fostering social support) to organizational and community approaches (e.g., resource fairs; tools for schools, churches, and broader community settings) and policy changes (e.g., increased funding to improve access). Conclusions: Qualitative findings have potential to provide the foundation for culturally relevant interventions to improve access to mental health care and engagement in services. It is imperative that researchers partner with communities to address these disparities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Community needs and recommendations for multilevel mental health interventions among young Black men with previous trauma exposure.

Bauer¹,

Pean²,

Lalwani³

et al. 2022

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Self Cite

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“…Moreover, restorative practices foster resilience and communication across the individual, interpersonal, and collective realms, successfully illustrating empathy and improving relationships [ 46 ]. Focusing on the community as a whole rather than changes in individual behavior produces a more significant impact [ 47 ]. For example, Woods-Jaeger et al [ 48 ] conducted a study using the Radical Healing Framework, a strengths-based model that activates resilience to oppression to foster wellness across individual, interpersonal, and community dimensions.…”

Section: The Restorative Integral Support (Ris) Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Restorative Integral Support (RIS) Model: Community-Based Integration of Trauma-Informed Approaches to Advance Equity and Resilience for Boys and Men of Color

Duncan

Horton

Smith

et al. 2023

Behavioral Sciences

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Mental health and health promotion research and practice have consistently revealed the social and structural inequities that boys and men of color (BMoC) face. Moreover, scholarship highlights the importance of gender, especially the concepts of masculinity and manhood, in understanding inequities that are experienced. Providers and community leaders are finding culturally relevant ways to foster healing and restoration while addressing racial trauma and the adverse community environments tied to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This article introduces the restorative integral support (RIS) model to promote connectivity through networks and to acknowledge the contextual differences BMoC experience when suffering from trauma and adversities. RIS is a framework used to address adversities and trauma while increasing societal awareness and advancing equity. This community-based, multidimensional approach is offered to enhance individual, agency, community, and policymaking leadership, raising awareness of mental health concerns and trauma while offering a flexible guide to developing safe spaces and support for recovery from ACEs and trauma. This article offers an in-depth appreciation of the real-life contexts within which BMoC overcome histories of adversity and trauma, demonstrating how the RIS model is applied to advance structural transformation while fostering community resilience.

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“…Research notes that Black individuals may be less likely to use MHS due to mistrust and fear of being mistreated (Fripp & Carlson, 2017; Shi et al, 2019), whereas Latinx individuals are often deterred by language barriers and fear of deportation (Rios-Ellis, 2005). Given strong linkages between mental and physical health, barriers to MHS utilization must be identified to facilitate the development of intervention strategies that promote health and wellbeing among people of color (Bauer et al, 2020).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Trauma is a significant risk factor for poor health and need for MHS across the life span (Bauer et al, 2020). Child and adult trauma are each linked to elevated rates of psychiatric disorders in adulthood, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse (Breuer et al, 2020; Bryant-Davis et al, 2010; Green et al, 2010; McLaughlin et al, 2010; Seng et al, 2008; Shahar et al, 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Unmet need for mental health services utilization among under-resourced Black and Latinx adults.

Loeb¹,

Viducich²,

Smith-Clapham³

et al. 2023

Families, Systems, & Health

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Introduction: Substantial unmet need for mental health services (MHS) exists in the United States, with pronounced disparities among people of color. Research highlights the need to identify facilitators and barriers to MHS utilization among Black and Latinx individuals to better promote overall health. We tested an expanded model of MHS use based on Andersen’s (1995) conceptual framework of health care utilization. Associations were examined between sociodemographic variables, trauma and adversity burden, living with HIV, and unmet need for MHS in a community sample of underresourced Black and Latinx individuals. Barriers to MHS utilization are described. Methods: Five-hundred participants completed the UCLA Life Adversities Screener (LADS), sociodemographic measures, and items assessing need for and barriers to MHS. Results: 228 (46%) participants reported a need for MHS; of these, 115 (51%) reported receiving MHS. A binomial logistic regression model estimated the relative contribution of the LADS on need for MHS. Severity of LADS, younger age, and living with HIV predicted unmet need for MHS. Barriers to MHS included financial and time constraints and health system-related issues. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests revealed differences in mental health symptoms by MHS need. Discussion: The unmet need for MHS in this sample of Black and Latinx individuals highlights the importance of addressing the systemic roots of trauma and adversity burden, and eliminating structural barriers to treatment to reduce existing health and mental health inequities.

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“We Are Our Own Counselor”: Resilience, Risk Behaviors, and Mental Health Service Utilization among Young African American Men

Cited by 15 publications

References 95 publications

Community needs and recommendations for multilevel mental health interventions among young Black men with previous trauma exposure.

Community needs and recommendations for multilevel mental health interventions among young Black men with previous trauma exposure.

The Restorative Integral Support (RIS) Model: Community-Based Integration of Trauma-Informed Approaches to Advance Equity and Resilience for Boys and Men of Color

Unmet need for mental health services utilization among under-resourced Black and Latinx adults.

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