Avoiding Allostatic Load: Black Male Collegians and the Quest for Well-Being

Abstract

The literature suggests that African American/Black males are less likely to seek professional assistance for mental health and other personal concerns than African American/Black females and that they are more likely to seek informal help for mental health problems than professional help. Are there circumstances where African American/Black males would seek professional help over informal help? This research updates what is currently known about African American/Black male collegians’ help-seeking behaviors and the circumstances or conditions that might influence professional help-seeking. Secondary data illustrating the help-seeking behaviors of African American/Black male collegians at an urban HBCU was examined to identify patterns or trends during the first semester of 2018 and 2019. De-identified data sheets for 103 African American/Black males were examined to identify referral sources, current mental health concerns, and past mental health concerns. African American/Black male and female collegians sought professional assistance for similar concerns: family problems, couples problems, peer interpersonal problems, depression, anxiety, and stress. Black males were more likely to self-refer for professional assistance than seek informal assistance. Implications for university counseling centers are explored.