Black Male Mental Health and the Black Church: Advancing a Collaborative Partnership and Research Agenda

J Relig Health. 2018 Jun;57(3):1095-1107. doi: 10.1007/s10943-018-0570-x.

Abstract

This article explores the role the Black Church could play in facilitating spiritually sensitive, culturally relevant and gender-specific services to address the mental health and well-being of Black males. The help-seeking behaviors of Black men are examined as the authors offer two theories: the body, mind, spirit, environment, social, transcendent, and health, illness, men, and masculinities that may assist the Black Church in functioning as an effective support networks for healthy Black male mental health. Next, the authors discuss implications for practice, research, and education, and lastly, eight recommendations for Black Church leadership, social workers, and mental health professionals are also discussed.

Keywords: African American men; Black Church; Black men; Black mental health; Health disparities; Help-seeking behaviors; Masculinity; Religion.

MeSH terms

  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Christianity*
  • Clergy
  • Help-Seeking Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Masculinity*
  • Mental Health / ethnology*
  • Religion and Psychology*
  • United States