title: Mental health and well-being of black women: toward strategies of empowerment.
abstract: This review of the literature on Black women's mental health has three goals: 1) to describe the mental health issues, needs, and adaptive behaviors of Black women; 2) to discuss the research, intervention, and public policy efforts of mental health professionals and Black women's groups to address the multiple needs of this population; and 3) to identify effective strategies by which community psychologists can improve the mental health status of Black women through efforts to reduce their environmental stressors, to increase their resources and access to services, and to facilitate their empowerment in American society. The authors propose a number of recommendations to improve Black women's mental health, including changes in research paradigms, changes in education and training programs, and the development of culturally competent service delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley 94720, USA.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuery
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012931:Social Environment; D012951:Socialization