title: Ethnic differences in mental illness and mental health service use among Black fathers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have presented nationally representative data on the prevalence and correlates of mental illness and mental health service use among African American and Caribbean Black (US-born and foreign-born) fathers in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have reported national estimates of lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates of mental illness, correlates, and service use among African American (n = 1254) and Caribbean Black (n = 633) fathers using data from the National Survey of American Life, a national household survey of Black Americans. We used bivariate cross-tabulations and Cox proportional hazards regression approaches and adjusted for the National Survey of American Life's complex sample design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of mental illness, sociodemographic correlates, and service use among Black fathers varied by ethnicity and nativity. US-born Caribbean Black fathers had alarmingly high rates of most disorders, including depression, anxiety, and substance disorders. Mental health service use was particularly low for African American and foreign-born Caribbean Black fathers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate the need for more research on the causes and consequences of mental illness and the help-seeking behavior of ethnically diverse Black fathers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27707, USA. otima.doyle@duke.edu
authors.forename: Otima
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.forename: Cleopatra H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Caldwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D005220:Fathers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D001741:Black or African American