Use of Professional and Informal Support by Black Men With Mental Disorders

Abstract

This study utilized data from the National Survey of American Life to investigate the use of professional services and informal support among African American and Caribbean black men with a lifetime mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder. Thirty-three percent used both professional services and informal support, 14% relied on professional services only, 24% used informal support only, and 29% did not seek help. African American men were more likely than to rely on informal support alone. Having co-occurring mental and substance disorders, experiencing an episode in the past 12 months, and having more people in the informal network increased the likelihood of using professional services and informal supports. Marital status, age, and socioeconomic status were also significantly related to help-seeking. The results suggests potential unmet need. However, the reliance on informal support also suggests a strong protective role that informal networks play in the lives of black men.

Discrimination and Help-Seeking: Use of Professional Services and Informal Support Among African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Non-Hispanic Whites with a Mental Disorder

“…These studies found similar patterns of helpseeking to those described previously and few differences between African Americans and black Caribbeans; however, African American men were more likely than black Caribbean men to rely on informal support alone (Woodward et al 2011). Overall, studies examining professional services and informal support simultaneously find that informal support is an important source of assistance for personal problems as well as mental disorders and is used both in conjunction with and in place of professional services.…”

“…Two other recent studies using the NSAL look at the use of professional services and informal support specifically for a mental disorder (Woodward et al 2008;Woodward et al 2011). These studies found similar patterns of helpseeking to those described previously and few differences between African Americans and black Caribbeans; however, African American men were more likely than black Caribbean men to rely on informal support alone (Woodward et al 2011).…”

“…In combination with several other efforts (Neighbors and Jackson 1984;Woodward et al 2008Woodward et al , 2010Woodward et al , 2011, this study builds on this body of research to examine the use of professional services and informal support simultaneously. Using data from the National Survey of black Americans, for example, Neighbors and Jackson (1984) found that when faced with a personal problem, roughly equal proportions of African Americans used informal support or a combination of professional services and informal support, whereas much smaller proportions relied on professional services only or did not receive help at all.…”

African American Women Living with Mental Disorders: Factors Associated with Help Seeking from Professional Services and Informal Supports

“…This finding is similar to results found among studies of African American men (Woodward, Taylor, & Chatters, 2011). The results of both studies contrast with previous research, which found that people age 18 to 29 are more likely to seek professional services than are older adults (Cooper-Patrick et al, 1999); Wang et al, 2005).…”

Age-Related Concomitants of Obtaining Mental Health Care in Adulthood

“…In this respect, women and Caucasian adults are more likely to obtain mental health services, whereas older adults and AfricanAmerican adults are less likely to obtain such ser vices. [7][8][9][10][11] Use of mental health services also tends to be higher among unmarried individuals and those with more education and income. 12 Social support, life stressors, and coping strat egies are predisposing factors that may also en able or impede the use of mental health services.…”