Racial Differences in Accessing Counseling and Support Services for Adolescents

What is it about?

This study examines racial differences between Black and White caregivers in how they perceive the need for and use mental health and support services for adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges. It highlights that Black caregivers are less likely to perceive a need for traditional counseling and more likely to prefer youth mentoring programs, especially for addressing externalizing behaviors. The research uses data from a diverse sample of caregivers to explore barriers and culturally informed preferences for adolescent mental health care.

Featured Image

Photo by Oscar Omondi on Unsplash

Photo by Oscar Omondi on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Black youth face significant disparities in accessing mental health care, often due to cultural perceptions, stigma, and systemic barriers. This study sheds light on how these challenges shape caregivers’ decisions to seek care. By understanding these dynamics, the findings point to opportunities to integrate evidence-based practices into culturally acceptable formats like mentoring programs, ultimately reducing mental health disparities and improving access for underserved populations.

Perspectives

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This research underscores the importance of culturally sensitive approaches to adolescent mental health care. By identifying Black caregivers’ preferences for less stigmatizing support services like mentoring programs, we hope this work inspires public health efforts to provide accessible, culturally aligned interventions. Addressing these disparities is vital to promoting equity in mental health care and fostering better outcomes for all adolescents.

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