title: Developing suicide prevention programs for African American youth in African American churches.
abstract: Suicide prevention programs for African American youth in African American churches may have broad appeal because: (1) the Black Church has a strong history of helping community members, regardless of church membership; (2) African Americans have the highest level of public and private religiousness; and (3) the church can help shape religious and cultural norms about mental health and help-seeking. The proposed gatekeeper model trains lay helpers and clergy to recognize the risk and protective factors for depression and suicide, to make referrals to the appropriate community mental health resources, and to deliver a community education curriculum. Potential barriers and suggestions for how to overcome these barriers are discussed.
authors.affiliation: George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA. smolock@gwu.edu
authors.forename: Sherry Davis
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Molock
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matlin
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barksdale
authors.forename: Rupa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lyles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003419:Crisis Intervention / Q000379:methods; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004181:Directories as Topic; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005544:Forecasting; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000379:methods; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012067:Religion; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention