title: Mental health services for African Americans: a cultural/racial perspective.
abstract: African Americans have made consistent progress toward first-class citizenship since 1965. Nonetheless, mental health services for this population have been biased, incomplete, and deficient because similarities to European Americans have been emphasized whereas differences were largely ignored. This article addresses some differences, including cultural/racial identity and the cultural self, that affect assessment, psychiatric diagnoses, and psychotherapy or other interventions. An assessment-intervention model illustrates how cultural information can inform service delivery and improve services to African Americans. Cultural/racial perspectives on mental health in a multicultural society suggest innovations in the design of these services and access to them that can increase utilization by African Americans.
authors.affiliation: Regional Research Institute, Portland State University, 1912 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 120, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA. rolana@pdx.edu
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Dana
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States