title: Enabling factors of mental health service use among African Americans.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence use of mental health service (MHS) by African Americans (AA) first-time voluntary users who accessed public MHS. Using a grounded theory approach, 24 participants were interviewed. Three major enabling factors - family, valued others, and beliefs - were identified that focused on the ability to secure needed MHS. Findings indicate an under identified and underused strategy for meeting first-time users' perceived needs. Findings have implications for culturally competent outreach and future research.
authors: University of Louisville School of Nursing, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. uphine01@Louisville.edu
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Hines-Martin
authors: Ada
authors: A
authors: Brown-Piper
authors: Sanggil
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Malone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011634:Public Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology