Invisible Barriers: How Racial Discrimination Alters Help-Seeking's Role in Mental Health for Black Young Adults

Objective: Racial discrimination has significant negative impacts on young Black males’ mental health. Racial discrimination is associated with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among this population. Understanding factors impacting mental health help-seeking behaviors among young Black males is critical; however, limited research has examined whether racial discrimination disrupts (moderates) the relationship between mental health seeking behaviors and mental health among Black males 18 to 24.

Methods: Data was collected online via Qualtrics in the US during 2024. Participants included 350 Black males aged 18 to 24 (M = 21.49, SD = 1.96). Validated, self-report measures assessed depressive symptoms, anxiety, suicidality, racial discrimination, and formal and informal help-seeking. Stepwise linear regression and the PROCESS 4.0 Macro for SPSS 29 were used to investigate whether racial discrimination moderated the relationship between help seeking and mental health outcomes.

Results: Racial discrimination significantly moderated the relationship between help seeking and mental health outcomes. Among young Black males experiencing low levels of racial discrimination, help-seeking was associated with improved mental health outcomes. However, among young Black males experiencing high levels of racial discrimination, the relationship between informal help-seeking (e.g., significant others) and reduced depressive symptoms was diminished and non-significant (B = .30, SE = .14, p = .03). A similar, non-significant relationship was found between formal help-seeking (e.g., mental health professionals) and mental health outcomes among young Black males experience high racial discrimination; however, formal help-seeking was associated with increased suicidal ideation (B = .72, SE = .54, p = .001).

Conclusions: Findings suggest that the impact of help-seeking on young Black males’ mental health is moderated by racial discrimination. Most notably, results suggest that help seeking does not yield improved mental health outcomes, and in some cases worsens mental health, among young Black males experiencing high racial discrimination. These findings emphasize the urgent need to address the pervasive impact of racial discrimination and tailor mental health interventions that more effectively support young Black males. Culturally competent approaches that recognize and mitigate these unique stressors are essential to enhance protective factors and reduce mental health inequities.