Religious Influence: A Study of Mental Health Help-Seeking Attitudes of Southern African American Male Pastors

Abstract

Research shows a notable increase in attention to mental health disparities in the African American community. This increase in mental health concerns has also made its way to the African American church. However, the availability of literature on mental health care and religious influence from the perspective of the African American male pastor is limited. The purpose of this study is to gain a deep understanding of the attitudes and beliefs of African American male pastors in the south toward mental health help-seeking, and how these beliefs reinforce mental health stigma in the African American community. To address this purpose the following research question is asked, what is the southern African American male pastors’ opinion of their roles and influence in mental health care advocacy? The participants for this study are African American male pastors who live in the southern United States and, during the research period, actively serve as the pastor for one of five of the most common and predominantly African American congregations located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina; the African Methodist Episcopal (AME); the Missionary Baptist Church (MBC), the Church of God by Faith (COGBF), the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and the Non-Denominational/Non-Organizational Affiliate (ND/NA). Study data is coded using grounded theory processes identified by Juliet Corbin, Anselm Strauss, and Katherine Charmaz. This research revealed three emergent themes indicating the beliefs and attitudes of African American male pastors in the south. These themes were identified as the changing roles and opinions of pastors related to mental health advocacy, advising secular counseling, and supporting parishioners within the congregation.