Racial differences in informal help seeking for mental health problems

Abstract

The present study examined the hypothesis of greater African American informal help seeking for mental health problems in a comparison of African Americans and Whites. Controlling for sociodemographic factors, symptom distress, and diagnosis, African Americans were less likely than Whites to report turning for assistance to a friend, family member, or religious figure. Nor did African Americans use informal help as a substitute for professional care; they turned to informal helpers in conjunction with formal helpers, and demonstrated complementarity to a greater extent than Whites. Supportive ties found among African Americans may be advantageous for many purposes, but provide no benefit for the face-to-face discussion of emotional problems. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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