Date of Award

4-23-2024

Embargo Period

5-7-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Health Administration

College

College of Health Professions

First Advisor

Jillian Harvey

Second Advisor

Elinor Borgert

Third Advisor

Derrick Mitchell

Abstract

Background: African Americans underutilized mental health care services, compared to other population groups, in the past decades. While African Americans have the same mental health needs and rates of mental health diagnosis as other races, for some groups, there are additional cultural or environmental factors that create additional barriers to utilizing care (Alang, 2019). Methods: This project will be a cross-sectional study using an online survey of behavioral health practitioners. Results: Respondents were predominantly females (69%) and African Americans (69%). Their work medical specialties included: licensed counseling social workers and clinical social workers, mental health therapists, and psychiatrists. The average work experience is 13 years, and most work within government facilities (54%). Conclusion: This study was designed to establish initiatives to encourage black or African Americans to seek behavioral health care from the provider's point of view. Teaching the African American communities and behavioral providers was a shared effort by all respondents; via offering culturally sensitive education (DEI) training to the providers.

Rights

Copyright is held by the author. All rights reserved.

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