African American Men in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment
What Clinicians Need to Know
This site is a guide to help clinicians working with African American men in substance abuse and mental health treatment. It will help you understand the unique challenges of African American men and how to strengthen the therapeutic relationship, leading to better treatment outcomes.
African American men can face many challenges and barriers upon entering treatment, which can negatively influence treatment outcomes. Some key concepts to help understand and address these challenges and barriers include Critical Race Theory, Counter-storytelling, and Cultural Humility.
Systemic Barriers
Institutional racism fosters and maintains systemic barriers that African Americans experience, and can have detrimental effects on their mental health (Banaji et al., 2021; Scott-Jones & Kamara, 2020). These barriers can have a negative impact on the lives of African Americans. Some of these barriers include unemployment, poverty, and lack of housing.
Cultural Humility
Cultural humility is an anti-oppressive practice that involves self-exploration and understanding how one's own background, beliefs, and values influences others (Gottlied, 2021). It involves learning, having an understanding, and a willingness to learn about the beliefs, customs, and values of others.
The Lived Experiences of African American Men in Treatment
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In their Own Words
Because of institutional racism and discrimination, many African American in treatment are negatively impacted by systemic barriers and lack of resources, leading to persistent racial disparities and substance use and mental health problems. The following quotes were taken from my qualitative study where I explored the lived experiences of African American men with a history of substance abuse and mental health treatment involvement.
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"If you are not aware of someone's history, you may be able to address their problem, but you won't be able to fully address their needs."
Anthony Gay
Director of Curricula Development
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Welcome 2 Reality, LLC
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