Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
There is a great need to carefully examine issues that may elevate one’s risk for mental illness and develop strategies to mitigate risk and cultivate resilience. African Americans, specifically African American women (AAW), are disproportionately affected by mental illness, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Higher rates of PTSD among AAW may be explained by significant rates of trauma exposure. Higher resiliency in individuals with mental illnesses is associated with better treatment response/outcomes. An examination of two (2) promising psycho-educational curricula for AAW at risk for depression and PTSD supports consideration of resilience as a protective factor among this population. Strengthening psychological resilience among diverse AAW at risk for depression and/or PTSD may serve as a protective factor for symptom severity. Multidimensional prevention and intervention strategies should incorporate culturally-centered, gender-specific, and strengths-based (resilience) models of care to help encourage mental health help-seeking and promotion of wellness for AAW.
Highlights
Mental Illness in the United StatesMaintaining optimum mental health is an important aspect of a person’s overall health status
We propose that resilience is a protective factor for African American women at risk for mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
By integrating the individual’s personal narrative and recognizing the potential of empowerment to support engagement in the illness recovery process, a continuum of care is created where psychological distress is replaced with hope, optimism, and a positive adaptation to adversity and stress
Summary
Maintaining optimum mental health is an important aspect of a person’s overall health status. African Americans are more likely to experience certain factors that increase the risk for developing a mental health condition such as homelessness and exposure to violence (Fothergill, Doherty, Robertson, & Ensminger, 2012; Bennett & Joe, 2015) As the ethnic and cultural diversity of the patient population continues to expand, the importance of cultural competence among medical professionals becomes greater for treating African Americans (Holden & Xanthos, 2009) This is important for African American women seeking care for depression in in primary care settings (Shim et al, 2013). Behavioral health professionals should prioritize identification and responding to the unique issues generated by trauma exposure among this population, and develop skills to promote trauma-focused treatment engagement and resilience skill building
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
