African-American clergy express positive attitudes toward mental health services

Ebony Gaffney

NEW YORK — African-American clergy have positive attitudes toward their [congregants] seeking mental health services, according to study findings presented during a press briefing.

“The purpose of this quantitative study was to correlate theological beliefs, education and personal experience with mental illness with African American clergy’s attitude regarding health-seeking behavior for psychological distress,” Ebony Gaffney, MD, PhD, MBA, psychiatrist with Gateway Behavioral Health Residency Program in Savannah, and APA fellow, said during her presentation. “There is an influence coming from the African American community through faith leaders, therefore building an alliance and collaboration with them is important.”

Using the theological framework of the Health Belief Model, Gaffney examined African American protestant clergy’s attitudes toward [congregants] seeking professional psychological help. In this randomized, cross-sectional descriptive study, 98 African American clergy completed surveys to determine if their religious beliefs (conservative vs. nonconservative), level of education, and personal experience with mental illness affected their attitude toward [congregants] seeking professional psychological help.

Multiple linear regression results showed theological beliefs had a direct impact on the clergy’s attitudes toward their parishioners seeking professional psychological help, but not their own education or personal experience with mental illness. Notably, the more conservative views correlated with positive attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Using the Health Belief Model as a theological framework can offer insight into the basis of mental health utilization in faith communities, Gaffney said.

“Theology had a direct effect on African American attitudes towards seeking professional psychological concealing,” Gaffney said. “The implications of this study include hopes of destigmatizing the current beliefs of conservative pastors, having a negative attitude toward [congregants] seeking psychological professional help, and using the momentum from the pulpit as a form of collaboration to educate and promote a mental health. There are faith communities everywhere, we just need to increase the access, even with limited resources.” – by Savannah Demko

Reference:

Gaffney, ED. P6-135. Presented at: American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; May 5-9, 20178; New York.

Disclosures: Gaffney reports no relevant financial disclosures.