Perception of Mental Illness in the African American Church Culture

Main Article Content

Rhyanne McDade
James Peugh
Lori Crosby

Keywords

Mental-Health Stigma, African Americans, Faith-based, Spirituality, Church

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the need for mental health education with several African American churches within a major Midwestern city.


Methods: Researchers examined participant knowledge of disease causality and familiarity. Additionally, researchers examined relationships between demographic variables on responses to four stigma items.


Results: Analyses indicated higher education and income was associated with higher stigma. Females were less likely to report higher stigma levels. Results showed as age increases for females, stigma levels decrease.


Conclusions: Study findings indicate the need for future study replication within larger populations, and additional mental health education within the African American faith-based community.

Abstract 216 | PDF Downloads 211