Cultural Mistrust of Mental Health Professionals Among Black Males Transitioning from Foster Care

Abstract

We examined cultural mistrust of mental health professionals among Black males who are transitioning from the foster care system (N = 74) and its relationship to their level of satisfaction with child welfare services and the frequency of negative social contextual experiences. Results of hierarchical regression analysis showed that the level of satisfaction with child welfare services moderated the relationship between negative social contextual experiences and cultural mistrust of mental health professionals. Specifically, more frequent negative social contextual experiences were related to greater cultural mistrust of mental health professionals for Black males reporting low satisfaction with child welfare services, but not for those reporting high satisfaction with child welfare services. Implications for service delivery are discussed.

What Do African American Youth With a Mental Illness Think About Help-Seeking and Psychiatric Medication?: Origins of Stigmatizing Attitudes

“…Research attributes this mistrust to negative experiences with institutions and public agencies (Franklin, 1992). These experiences instill fear in members of the African American community that previous negative experiences with the system will be repeated (Scott, McCoy, Munson, Snowden, & McMillen, 2010). Consequently, these youth felt less trustful of the mental health system, and more trusting on faith, family, and the self.…”

Irreducibility of Black Male Clients: Considerations for Culturally Competent Counseling

“…One theme is advocacy against the pathological constructions of Black men (Howard et al, ; Sue et al, ). A second theme highlights influencing factors on the relationship between Black male clients and counselors (Cimbolic, ; Franklin, ; Scott, McCoy, Munson, Snowden, & McMillen, ; Ward & Besson, ) and effective counseling interventions (Harper et al, ; Vereen, Butler, Williams, Darg, & Downing, ; Vereen, Hill, & Butler, ). A third theme addresses counselors' work with Black men in varied personal and social settings, such as the realm of education (Ford & Moore, ; Henfield, ; Henfield, Washington, & Byrd, ; Hines & Holcomb‐McCoy, ).…”

Psychosocial, socio-cultural, and environmental influences on mental health help-seeking among African-American men

“…Shame and denial of mental health issues have also been identified as barriers to African-Americans’ care-seeking behaviors [24, 25]. Research evidence indicates that when African-American men perceive discrimination and racism, it leads to increased stress, limited help-seeking behaviors and lower psychological well-being [26–28]. Franklin [28] suggests that the psychological experience of invisibility leads to impaired personal identity and ability undermined by racism in a myriad of interpersonal circumstances.…”