Management of Depression in Black People: Effects of Cultural Issues

Abstract

Black people are disproportionately affected by mental illness, including depression. While the prevalence of depression is paradoxically lower in the Black population, the impact of depression on Black people results in greater severity of illness and higher chronicity. The main factors through which Black people experience worse mental health outcomes includes delayed treatment seeking and poor access to mental health services. Mental illness stigma (ie, negative attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors about a particular characteristic) contributes to delayed treatment seeking. Both patients and mental health professionals experience stigma that affects health engagement, limits access to effective depression treatments, and compromises positive patient-clinician communication. A commitment to lifelong learning about the role of culture, history, and the psychosocial context of our patients is critical to closing gaps in the field of mental health. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2023;53(3):122–125.]