Kim L. Stansbury

An Exploration of Mental Health Literacy Among African American Clergy

ABSTRACT The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore African American clergys mental health literacy with older congregants 60 years of age and older. Using a grounded theory approach, we recruited a purposive sample of 9 African American clergy representing diverse ages, denominations, locales, and educational levels. Data was coded and classified according to Kevins (1976) typology of pastoral counseling and Jorm et al.s (1997) conceptual model of mental health literacy. Findings from data analysis revealed study respondents were adherents of Kevins Religious–Community (R–C) model. Additionally, the following themes emerged: loss of cognitive functioning, psychosocial stressors, religiosity, and appreciation for professional assistance, cultural barriers, and key informants/familiarity with formal mental health providers which partially maps onto Jorm et al.s conceptual model of mental health literacy.

Rural African American clergy: Are they literate on late-life depression?

This exploratory study examined rural African American clergys knowledge of and experience in providing support to African American elders with late-life depression. Interviews were conducted with nine African American clergy who oversaw rural churches in central Kentucky. Jorm and colleagues provide a conceptual framework for mental health literacy to explore participants’ knowledge of late-life depression. Although few clergy had direct experience with counseling a depressed older adult, all the clergy were considered literate regarding late-life depression and its treatment. These findings have implications for social workers building collaborative community treatment relationships.

African American Clergy: What are Their Perceptions of Pastoral Care and Pastoral Counseling?

This qualitative study explores African American clergy’s perspectives on pastoral care and pastoral counseling. Interviews were conducted with 18 African American clergy of diverse ages, locales, and educational levels who were recruited from a southern state. Two major themes emerged from the data: (a) Shepherding the Flock and (b) Distinguishable Concepts with Different Meaning and Functions. Implications for social work practice and research are addressed.

Rural African American Clergy: An Exploration of Their Attitudes and Knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease

Rural African American clergys ability to recognize Alzheimers Disease (AD) and their capacity to provide support to elders with this illness has been neglected in the literature. Using a mental health literacy framework, the purpose of this research was to explore rural African American clergy knowledge and beliefs of AD. In-depth interviews were conducted with 9 African American clergy who oversaw churches in central Kentucky. Although few had direct experience with providing pastoral care to elders with AD, all clergy were literate and aware of the need for additional training. This study seeks to further clarify the role of African American clergy and their understanding of AD to inform the future development of appropriate interventions and establish better collaborative community treatment relationships.

African American College Students: Literacy of Depression and Help Seeking

Depression is a serious public health concern in the United States affecting almost 18.8 million adults (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2003). It is a common mental disorder in college students (ArehartTreichel, 2002; Song et al., 2008), with estimates of 1 in 4 “experiencing an episode by age 24” (American Psychiatric Assocation [APA], 2007). African American college students are at an elevated risk for depression due to racism, stress, sleep deprivation, and lack of academic and social support (Dzokoto, Hicks, & Miller, 2007; Kelly, Kelly, Brown, & Kelly, 1999). Even though 11.4% of African American students self-reported a psychiatric diagnosis of depression they did not report a history of utilizing campus counseling and/ or community mental health services (Soet & Sevig, 2006). Nationwide 24% of Americans will receive treatment whereas only 16% of African Americans will seek services from specialty mental health clinics (Schnittker, 2003). African Americans often view depression as a personal weakness (Dzokoto et al., 2007) that is best addressed by faith and prayer not counseling and pharmacology (Dzokoto et al.; Shellman, Mokel, & Wright, 2007). Stigmatization, cost of treatment, lack of availability of services, and failing to recognize depressive symptoms are well known barriers to mental health utilization (Brown & Palenchar, 2004; Cooper et al., 2003). However, to date, little research addresses African American college students’ mental health literacy regarding depression. This systematic and empirical knowledge gap regarding African American college students’ recognition of depressive symptoms and perspectives on treatment options for depression must be addressed to avoid complications leading to other problems such as self-medication with drugs and alcohol (Shellman et al.). Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine African American college students’ mental health literacy regarding depression. Previous studies using this approach have found that individuals who are mental health literate are likely to seek help for themselves, and/or recommend professional assistance to family and friends experiencing symptoms of depression (Jorm, Kitchener, O’Kearney, & Dear, 2004).

African American Clergy's Perceptions of Mental Health and Pastoral Care to Elder Congregants

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore African American clergys perspectives on gerontological mental health and pastoral care to elderly congregants. Interviews were conducted with 18 African American clergy in Kentucky. Data analysis revealed two salient themes: holistic health and holistic pastoral care. These findings have implications for training and continuing education of clergy, in addition to the need for increased collaboration among social workers and clergy.The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore African American clergys perspectives on gerontological mental health and pastoral care to elderly congregants. Interviews were conducted with 18 African American clergy in Kentucky. Data analysis revealed two salient themes: holistic health and holistic pastoral care. These findings have implications for training and continuing education of clergy, in addition to the need for increased collaboration among social workers and clergy.The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore African American clergys perspectives on gerontological mental health and pastoral care to elderly congregants. Interviews were conducted with 18 African American clergy in Kentucky. Data analysis revealed two salient themes: holistic health and holistic pastoral care. These findings have implications for training and continuing education of clergy, in addition to the need for increased collaboration among social workers and clergy.

Men of the Cloth: African-American Clergy's Knowledge and Experience in Providing Pastoral Care to African-American Elders with Late-Life Depression.

African-American clergys ability to recognize late-life depression and their capacity to provide support with this illness have been neglected in the literature. Using a mental health literacy framework, the purpose of this research was to explore African-American clergys knowledge of and treatments for late-life depression. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine African-American clergy who oversaw churches in central Kentucky. Collectively, all clergy were literate and aware of the need to provide support to elders with late-life depression. This study seeks to further clarify the role of African-American clergy and their understanding of late-life depression to inform future interventions and better collaborative relationships.

An exploration of mental health literacy among older African Americans

The intent of this exploratory descriptive study was to examine mental health literacy (MHL) with 28 African American elders who reside in Kentucky. Collectively, all elders were partially literate of mental disorders and familiar with self-help and professional interventions and Alzheimers and depression were the most recognized mental disorders. An awareness of MHL is an essential first step to understanding African American elders’ views about mental health which then can facilitate the design and development of culturally relevant psychoeducational programs geared to this subset of the aging population.

A Profile of Rural African American Lesbian Elders: Meeting Their Needs

Elderly African American lesbians in rural society represent diversity across numerous demographic characteristic and social positions that require specific responses to their needs. The population must address issues related to age, race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. In this chapter a trans-disciplinary examination of issues relevant to this population is examined. In order to do so, a profile of elderly African American lesbians is presented. Additional information is presented on the concepts of feminism and womanism, the construct of positive marginality, characteristics of rural society and how African American women and lesbians exist in such a context, cultural homophobia in the black community, and racism in the white gay community. Psychosocial adjustment considers the intersection of sexual orientation, age, and race statuses. Finally, healthcare, education, and public policy issues are examined with respect to elder African American lesbians.

African-American Urban Clergy's Literacy of Alzheimer's Disease

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine urban African-American clergys awareness of Alzheimers disease and willingness to provide support to elders and their family/caregivers. Interviews were conducted with nine African-American clergy who presided over churches in central Kentucky. Collectively, all clergy had previous experience providing pastoral care to adults with Alzheimers disease and were literate regarding its treatment. Study findings also revealed clergy were inclined to partner with their internal “health care” ministries and/or members with specialized knowledge of mental health services in an effort to provide education and emotional support to congregants in need. These findings have implications for social workers building collaborative community treatment relationships.The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine urban African-American clergys awareness of Alzheimers disease and willingness to provide support to elders and their family/caregivers. Interviews were conducted with nine African-American clergy who presided over churches in central Kentucky. Collectively, all clergy had previous experience providing pastoral care to adults with Alzheimers disease and were literate regarding its treatment. Study findings also revealed clergy were inclined to partner with their internal “health care” ministries and/or members with specialized knowledge of mental health services in an effort to provide education and emotional support to congregants in need. These findings have implications for social workers building collaborative community treatment relationships.The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine urban African-American clergys awareness of Alzheimers disease and willingness to provide support to elders and their family/caregivers. Interviews were conducted with nine African-American clergy who presided over churches in central Kentucky. Collectively, all clergy had previous experience providing pastoral care to adults with Alzheimers disease and were literate regarding its treatment. Study findings also revealed clergy were inclined to partner with their internal “health care” ministries and/or members with specialized knowledge of mental health services in an effort to provide education and emotional support to congregants in need. These findings have implications for social workers building collaborative community treatment relationships.