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African American Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities

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African Americans and Mental Health

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Abstract

Mental illness is pervasive in the African-American community. According to the American Psychiatric Association, the majority of African American who have mental illness do not receive the treatment they need to effectively manage their conditions. Barriers impede access to quality care. These barriers include stigma, poverty, distrust of healthcare professionals, deficiencies in the number of culturally competent practitioners, and misinformation (i.e., spiritual/religious beliefs). This results in individuals only seeking care in emergencies. Another factor is institutional racism. Generational trauma impacts how African Americans experience mental distress. All of these contribute to ongoing health disparities within the African American community. This chapter discusses the challenges African Americans experience accessing and acquiring quality care in the United States and explore common and newer strategies designed to foster a culture of improved mental health and wellness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, USA

    Brittany L. Dennis

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  1. Brittany L. Dennis
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Correspondence to Brittany L. Dennis .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mary Olufunmilayo Adekson, Faith Diversity Consulting, Lynchburg, VA, USA

    Mary Olufunmilayo Adekson

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Dennis, B.L. (2021). African American Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities. In: Adekson, M.O. (eds) African Americans and Mental Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77131-7_4

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