Community Approaches to Promoting Positive Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-Being

Abstract

Positive mental health for children includes having emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Communities provide an accessible and rich context for mental health services and programs for African American youth. Community approaches to positive mental health and psychosocial well-being recognize that children’s well-being can be enhanced within the community they live and attend school in. Formal mental health service such as that provided by hospitals and clinics may pose barriers to treatment including lack of access, limited culturally competent providers, stigma, and historical mistrust. Mental health services provided in community settings (e.g., faith-based institutions, homes, youth-serving organizations) may reduce access barriers, offer treatment professionals who are culturally similar and reduce some of the stigma surrounding mental health seeking and treatment. Services may promote good mental and psychosocial well-being directly (e.g., in-home counseling) or indirectly through impacting factors such as self-esteem or social relationships (e.g., Boys and Girls Clubs, Girls Scouts). Several evidence-based and promising programs that target mental health and psychosocial well-being for African American children are discussed in this chapter including programs that (1) promote positive emotional and behavioral well-being; (2) prevent and decrease risky behaviors (e.g., substance use, delinquency, and sexual risk); (3) address depression and anxiety; and (4) promote cultural attributes.