Engaging Faith- Based Communities in Mental Health Services: A Community Based Participatory Action Research

Background:

Faith based communities are often at the center for healing and well-being for different populations. Although faith-based organizations have a history of providing mental health services to their congregation and community, mental health services are often less utilized by African American population due to cultural barriers, geographic location, stigmas, prejudice and discrimination. With the increasing disparities in mental health among African Americans, this community resource can be engaged in providing mental health services to increase acceptance and significance of mental health. Empirical research in this area also remain largely fragmented to bolster the evidence base for faith based community engagement. The purpose of our study was to expand the evidence base for the engagement of faith based communities in providing mental health services among African American population showcasing partnership between a faith-based organization and a local university.

Methods:

 Using the Community Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) Approach, we engaged a local faith-based community and provided training on Mental Health First Aid. This evidence-based adult public education program was designed to improve participants’ knowledge and modification of their attitudes and perceptions about mental health. Our sample consisted of 50 faith-based leaders including pastors, ministry leaders, clergies, and congregants. The Duke University’s pre- survey for leadership scale and the attitudes toward seeking psychological professional help scale (adapted from Blalock and Dew’s Survey of Clergy Regarding Mental Health Care) were used to collect the baseline data and post-study data. Delphi technique was used as a structured communication method for gathering qualitative data from participants within their domain of expertise.

Findings:

Data analysis from the CBPAR approach using mixed methods research showed that there was increase in the capacity of clergy and congregants to recognize basic mental health recognition and intervention skills, connect them with local behavioral health resources for mental health services and support, while upholding their religious values and beliefs, in tandem. Results from the baseline and posttest showed positive increase in congregants’ attitude and perception about mental health services. Findings suggest increased awareness and openness in seeking mental health services and related resources among congregants. The CBPAR approach revealed that community engaged research with faith communities can largely increase not only the provision of culturally competent services, but increase mental health literacy within a community.

Implications:

Our study yields important implications for community collaboration between social work researchers, community agencies and faith-based organizations. While faith-based establishments have long been active in providing services to their constituents and the communities in which they are located, the research on effective ways to partner with and enhance the services they provide is very limited. Consistent with community based participatory action research (CBPAR), the federal government and other entities have recognized the effectiveness with which faith-based organizations already serve their communities. This faith-based and university partnership will fill a gap in the research literature and provide outcomes that will go towards developing an effective model that may create additional pathways of opportunity for faith-based organizations, community groups and university partnerships.