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Mincey K, Allen-Joyner C, Bowens R, Richardson B, Smith L, Mize V, Al-Haleem D, Graham E, Davis V, Dave A, Ahmadieh M, Beblowski M, Faul S, Joseph J, Moore K, Patel A, Shoemaker M. Mental Health and Black Male Graduate Students. SOCIAL WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38967051 DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2024.2376088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand how masculinity and race impact mental health among Black male graduate students. A qualitative study using in-depth interviews recruited Black male graduate students enrolled at a private university in the southern United States. Data were collected over zoom and recorded. Interviews were transcribed and the data were analyzed for similar themes. Twenty-nine Black male graduate students 23 to 51 were recruited. Participants reported the three main elements that impacted their mental health were (1) expectations, (2) pressure, and (3) being strong. These findings suggest that colleges need to develop programming to help Black men learn how to handle racial discrimination in positive ways. Additionally, findings also highlight the need for culturally relevant mental health services that let Black men know seeking help is ok and is what men do.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Mincey
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Rick Bowens
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Brianna Richardson
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Columbus, Georgia, USA
| | - Lindsay Smith
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Veronica Mize
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Dahlia Al-Haleem
- College of Law, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | | | - Victoria Davis
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Aditi Dave
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Maya Ahmadieh
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Matthew Beblowski
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Skylar Faul
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Joy Joseph
- North Carolina Medicaid, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kendra Moore
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Aakash Patel
- Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, Marietta, Georgia, USA
| | - Melanie Shoemaker
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia, USA
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Adams LB, Watts T, DeVinney A, Haroz EE, Thrul J, Stephens JB, Campbell MN, Antoine D, Lê Cook B, Joe S, Thorpe RJ. Acceptability and Feasibility of a Smartphone-Based Real-Time Assessment of Suicide Among Black Men: Mixed Methods Pilot Study. JMIR Form Res 2024; 8:e48992. [PMID: 38252475 PMCID: PMC10845025 DOI: 10.2196/48992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide rates in the United States have increased recently among Black men. To address this public health crisis, smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) platforms are a promising way to collect dynamic, real-time data that can help improve suicide prevention efforts. Despite the promise of this methodology, little is known about its suitability in detecting experiences related to suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB) among Black men. OBJECTIVE This study aims to clarify the acceptability and feasibility of using smartphone-based EMA through a pilot study that assesses the user experience among Black men. METHODS We recruited Black men aged 18 years and older using the MyChart patient portal messaging (the patient-facing side of the Epic electronic medical record system) or outpatient provider referrals. Eligible participants self-identified as Black men with a previous history of STB and ownership of an Android or iOS smartphone. Eligible participants completed a 7-day smartphone-based EMA study. They received a prompt 4 times per day to complete a brief survey detailing their STB, as well as proximal risk factors, such as depression, social isolation, and feeling like a burden to others. At the conclusion of each day, participants also received a daily diary survey detailing their sleep quality and their daily experiences of everyday discrimination. Participants completed a semistructured exit interview of 60-90 minutes at the study's conclusion. RESULTS In total, 10 participants completed 166 EMA surveys and 39 daily diary entries. A total of 4 of the 10 participants completed 75% (21/28) or more of the EMA surveys, while 9 (90%) out of 10 completed 25% (7/28) or more. The average completion rate of all surveys was 58% (20.3/35), with a minimum of 17% (6/35) and maximum of 100% (35/35). A total of 4 (40%) out of 10 participants completed daily diary entries for the full pilot study. No safety-related incidents were reported. On average, participants took 2.08 minutes to complete EMA prompts and 2.72 minutes for daily diary surveys. Our qualitative results generally affirm the acceptability and feasibility of the study procedures, but the participants noted difficulties with the technology and the redundancy of the survey questions. Emerging themes also addressed issues such as reduced EMA survey compliance and diminished mood related to deficit-framed questions related to suicide. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study will be used to clarify the suitability of EMA for Black men. Overall, our EMA pilot study demonstrated mixed feasibility and acceptability when delivered through smartphone-based apps to Black men. Specific recommendations are provided for managing safety within these study designs and for refinements in future intervention and implementation science research. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/31241.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie B Adams
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Thomasina Watts
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Aubrey DeVinney
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Emily E Haroz
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Johannes Thrul
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Mia N Campbell
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Denis Antoine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Benjamin Lê Cook
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Sean Joe
- George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Roland J Thorpe
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Lewis C, Fedock G, Garthe R, Lee C. Racial Differences in Suicidal Behaviors and Post-Suicide Attempt Treatment: a Latent Class Analysis of Incarcerated Men's Experiences. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023:10.1007/s40615-023-01826-9. [PMID: 37938433 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01826-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Community-based research has found racial differences in suicide attempts for Black and White men and in how men are treated after a suicide attempt; however, prison-based research has largely not explored such differences. This study examined racial differences in the circumstances of incarcerated men's suicide attempts and investigated health care disparities in staff responses to these suicide attempts. With administrative data from three state prisons over a 5-year period, we conducted a latent class analysis to explore patterns of suicide attempts for 207 incarcerated men. We examined race as a predictor of class membership. Black men were more likely than White men to use a method of hanging/suffocation for attempting suicide, and they were also commonly subjected to segregation when they attempted suicide. Black men were less likely to receive health care post-attempt than White men. Given the findings of this study, several key researches, practices, and policy directions are needed to prevent suicide and promote the health and well-being of incarcerated men, particularly incarcerated Black men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cashell Lewis
- Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, University of Chicago, 969 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Gina Fedock
- Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, University of Chicago, 969 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Rachel Garthe
- School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Carol Lee
- Addiction Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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