The Role of Black Churches in Promoting Mental Health for Communities of Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Black Americans
Objective: Churches in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods serve as safe havens in many Black communities. Churches provide faith and charitable services but often have limited resources to address the mental health needs of their communities. This article reports on a collaborative effort, driven by members of a Black church, to understand mental health needs, coping strategies, and resilience factors in a community of socioeconomically disadvantaged Black Americans. Methods: A community-based participatory research effort was established among a church, a community mental health organization, clinicians, and researchers to interview and survey individuals residing near the church. Results: The sample consisted of 59 adults, most of whom were ages 46–65 years, men (N=34, 58%), and unemployed (N=46, 78%). Mean scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (9.2±7.7) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder–7 scale (9.4±6.7) were almost three times higher than those reported by studies