Depression Is Real: Developing a Health Communication Campaign in an Urban African American Community

Abstract

Depression Is Real:Developing a Health Communication Campaign in an Urban African American Community Baraka Muvuka, PhD, MPH, Ryan M. Combs, PhD, MA, Nida M. Ali, PhD, MPH, Hazel Scott, and Monnica T. Williams, PhD, MA, ABPP What Is the Purpose of the Study? • To describe the use of Boot Camp Translation, a community-based participatory method, in designing a health communication campaign on depression in a predominantly African American community. • To describe the "Depression Is Real" health communication campaign and its effectiveness in improving the use of depression screening and treatment services in a predominantly African American community. • To discuss lessons learned from using the Boot Camp Translation method in developing a health communication campaign. What Is the Problem? • Depression is a main cause of disability worldwide and in the United States. • African Americans have higher rates of depression and experience more serious depression and disability than other racial/ethnic groups. • Public awareness campaigns on depression often lack community input and are not always responsive to minority populations' unique cultural needs and preferences. What Are the Findings? • Boot Camp Translation offered a structured process for engaging diverse community stakeholders. • Boot Camp Translation enabled the development and dissemination of a culturally tailored health communication campaign addressing depression in an urban African American community. • Boot Camp Translation activated community members to become health champions/advocates. • Depression is still stigmatized in the African American community, including faith communities. Who Should Care Most? • Community members. • Community leaders. • Mental/behavioral health professionals. • Faith leaders. • Researchers and academics interested in Community-Based Participatory Research, mental health, and health disparities. [End Page 143] • Public health practitioners and researchers should establish collaborative partnerships between community members and other stakeholders to develop culturally informed health communication campaigns or interventions. • Efforts to address depression in the African American community should actively engage the faith community. [End Page 144] Baraka Muvuka University of Louisville, School of Public Health and Information Sciences Ryan M. Combs University of Louisville, School of Public Health and Information Sciences Nida M. Ali University of Louisville, School of Public Health and Information Sciences Hazel Scott Community Member Monnica T. Williams University of Ottawa, School of Psychology Copyright © 2020 Johns Hopkins University Press