Increasing mental health service utilization in Black populations during COVID-19: Clarifying clinician responsibility.

Abstract

Black communities have been affected disproportionately by the negative conditions associated with COVID-19, such as higher levels of morbidity and mortality, unemployment, underemployment, food insecurity, homelessness, grief and loss, and the pandemics of intersectionality. This adversity is often associated with greater vulnerabilities in the areas of psychological functioning and wellness. Black communities have historically had negative experiences with the medical establishment. Despite recent increases, Black Americans still tend to underutilize mental health services due to many barriers, such as stigma, attitudes of mistrust, geographical inaccessibility, lack of affordable options, the availability of culturally humble mental health providers, myths of Black invincibility, and challenges navigating complex systems of care. Due to the physical and psychological impacts of the polypandemic, Black populations are in even greater need of mental health care. Additionally, there is increased risk to the mental health of Black children in relation to trauma and the suicide crisis. This article will focus on our responsibility as a clinical community to reduce and eliminate the obstacles to service utilization among Black populations using the following strategies: understanding historic cultural mistrust;enhancing the pipeline of Black psychologists;integrating cultural adaptations into therapy;acknowledgment of the suicidal crisis and impact of adverse childhood experiences among Black children and youth;affirming the importance of religious/spiritual worldview and practices;and prioritizing self-care for psychologists. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement The present study identifies multiple strategies psychologists can employ to increase mental health utilization among Black populations, particularly during COVID-19, including understanding historical cultural mistrust, enhancing the pipeline of Black clinicians, and integrating cultural adaptations into therapy. The importance of prioritizing self-care is demonstrated through findings in the literature as well as data from a predominantly Black independent practice in order to maximize client engagement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)