Published in 2000, Lay My Burden Down by Dr. Alvin Poussaint and Amy Alexander pinpoints the historical and present-day issues of suicide and mental health among African Americans. After read the book, I wanted to do see if I could find any recent research on African American views on mental health since book was written in 2000.
There is a history is abuse among blacks in the medical community, such as the sterilization of black women, which occurred up until the 1970s (Poussaint & Alexander, 2000, p. 73). I was curious to find research completed since the books release in 2000 that discussed the mental health attitudes of blacks have regarding mental treatment:
Jacobs, E., Rolle, I., Ferrans, C., Whitaker, E., & Warnecke, R. (2006) investigated African American’s confidence in the medical community. They found many blacks spoke of fear of experiments that might take place as they have in the past. American doctors were favored to foreign, but race did not matter. Malat, van Ryn, and Purcell (2009) conducted a similar study, however comparing opinions on mental health provider between races; though one third feel more comfortable with U.S. doctors, blacks are even more likely to prefer a U.S to a foreign born doctor in comparison to views reported by whites (Malat, et al., 2009). Results also stated that “16% believed that same race doctors better understood their health problems, but 22% expected to be more at ease with same race doctors”. Lindsey (2010) conducted interviews relating to help-seeking, and perceptions of mental health services with depressed African-American males, age’s 14-18. Participants were currently either receiving psychological services or no treatment at all. Results showed that many factors were found to significantly relate to engagement and therapeutic alliance with mental health services such as; the client’s perception of their own mental health, service providers for mental illness, and therapists understanding of cultural context (Lindsey, 2010).
Black women are more likely to use social networking such as a church for managing depression (Poussaint & Alexander, 2000, p. 130), and Ward and Heidrich (2009) confirmed this in a study completed with 185 African American women. Participants stated that their “preferred coping strategies included praying and seeking out medical and mental health care” (Ward & Heidrich, 2009). The study also added that many factors contributed to depression, one being racism, which Pouissant and Alexander (2000) also make note of in their book (p.).
A study by Mychailyszyn, dosReis, & Myers (2008) completed an investigation with African American mothers of recently diagnosed ADHD children. They developed a theoretical model to describe a process of how to make sense of their child’s diagnosis that involves the following: forming opinions, contemplating the origin, and reevaluating self-control. Due to the harsh history in the medical community blacks had to endure they are more inclined to fear mental health professionals (Poussaint & Alexander, 2000, p. 147). The relationship of clinician to patient can effect action; those clinicians that actively take part in assisting families with treatment decisions may improve the parent’s devotion to be consistent with children’s therapy (Mychailyszyn, dosReis, & Myers, 2008).
It appears to be common among these articles that the medical professional has an influence on the individual’s likelihood to stay in treatment. A strong client to patient relationship is critical, in which the client can clearly demonstrate a solid understanding for the patient. Not every relationship is a potential match, but professionals should still be motivated to engage and establish a positive connection with their clients.