{"id":{"repo_id":"baylor","oai_identifier":"oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/13156"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/baylor/oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/13156","repository":{"repo_id":"baylor","name":"Baylor University","base_url":"https://baylor-ir.tdl.org/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Tradition. religion. shame : a single case study on the stigmatization of Black American males who seek mental health support.","abstract":"Mental health within the Black community is a complicated issue, influenced by numerous factors that contribute to the reluctance of those in the community to seek certified mental health support. The stigma surrounding mental health plays a significant role, as individuals often feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek assistance due to fear of judgment or labeling. This reluctance is further aggravated by a historical mistrust of the healthcare system, stemming from experiences of racism and discrimination, which particularly impact those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Religious beliefs also traditionally shape attitudes toward mental health, although there have been doubts concerning its effectiveness in addressing mental health issues. Moreover, stigma, especially among Black males, promotes a significant reluctance to seek support, driven by societal and communal pressures, among other elements, leading to a perpetuation of cultural norms that discourage the admission of a need for support. This single-case study included Black males who seek or provide mental health services, and data were collected through an interview or a questionnaire. Data analysis involved data organization, transcription, and manual coding, with emerging themes categorized and connected to existing literature and the study's framework. Findings indicated that, while communal stigmatic attitudes remain concerning mental health as well as continued heavy reliance on religious counseling, there has been a cross-generational decrease in the reluctance to seek certified mental health support among Black males. Participants reported having little or no feelings of weakness or emasculation resulting from their decision to seek mental health support services. However, the study also indicated a monoethnic preference when seeking mental support services, underscoring the importance of representation and inclusion in the field of mental health services. One implication from the finding includes a need to leverage support from Black pastoral leaders to contribute in positive ways to support the shift away from stigmatizing those who seek mental health support. Additionally, sufficient and proportional diverse representation among mental health providers should be systematically addressed to motivate more Black males who wish to seek support. This potential increase in motivation could help to mitigate, if not eradicate, existing stigmas.","abstract_html":"Mental health within the Black community is a complicated issue, influenced by numerous factors that contribute to the reluctance of those in the community to seek certified mental health support. The stigma surrounding mental health plays a significant role, as individuals often feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek assistance due to fear of judgment or labeling. This reluctance is further aggravated by a historical mistrust of the healthcare system, stemming from experiences of racism and discrimination, which particularly impact those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Religious beliefs also traditionally shape attitudes toward mental health, although there have been doubts concerning its effectiveness in addressing mental health issues. Moreover, stigma, especially among Black males, promotes a significant reluctance to seek support, driven by societal and communal pressures, among other elements, leading to a perpetuation of cultural norms that discourage the admission of a need for support. This single-case study included Black males who seek or provide mental health services, and data were collected through an interview or a questionnaire. Data analysis involved data organization, transcription, and manual coding, with emerging themes categorized and connected to existing literature and the study's framework. Findings indicated that, while communal stigmatic attitudes remain concerning mental health as well as continued heavy reliance on religious counseling, there has been a cross-generational decrease in the reluctance to seek certified mental health support among Black males. Participants reported having little or no feelings of weakness or emasculation resulting from their decision to seek mental health support services. However, the study also indicated a monoethnic preference when seeking mental support services, underscoring the importance of representation and inclusion in the field of mental health services. One implication from the finding includes a need to leverage support from Black pastoral leaders to contribute in positive ways to support the shift away from stigmatizing those who seek mental health support. Additionally, sufficient and proportional diverse representation among mental health providers should be systematically addressed to motivate more Black males who wish to seek support. This potential increase in motivation could help to mitigate, if not eradicate, existing stigmas.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Fisher, Tarik, 1974-"],"institution":"Baylor University.","degree_name":"Ed.D.","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Pratt, Sarah Smitherman."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-08","date_published":"2024-08","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:07:56Z","subjects":["Mental health support.","Stigma.","Stigmatic attitudes.","Tradition.","Religion."],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. 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They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/2104/13156"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Mental health within the Black community is a complicated issue, influenced by numerous factors that contribute to the reluctance of those in the community to seek certified mental health support. The stigma surrounding mental health plays a significant role, as individuals often feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek assistance due to fear of judgment or labeling. This reluctance is further aggravated by a historical mistrust of the healthcare system, stemming from experiences of racism and discrimination, which particularly impact those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Religious beliefs also traditionally shape attitudes toward mental health, although there have been doubts concerning its effectiveness in addressing mental health issues. Moreover, stigma, especially among Black males, promotes a significant reluctance to seek support, driven by societal and communal pressures, among other elements, leading to a perpetuation of cultural norms that discourage the admission of a need for support. This single-case study included Black males who seek or provide mental health services, and data were collected through an interview or a questionnaire. Data analysis involved data organization, transcription, and manual coding, with emerging themes categorized and connected to existing literature and the study's framework. Findings indicated that, while communal stigmatic attitudes remain concerning mental health as well as continued heavy reliance on religious counseling, there has been a cross-generational decrease in the reluctance to seek certified mental health support among Black males. Participants reported having little or no feelings of weakness or emasculation resulting from their decision to seek mental health support services. However, the study also indicated a monoethnic preference when seeking mental support services, underscoring the importance of representation and inclusion in the field of mental health services. One implication from the finding includes a need to leverage support from Black pastoral leaders to contribute in positive ways to support the shift away from stigmatizing those who seek mental health support. Additionally, sufficient and proportional diverse representation among mental health providers should be systematically addressed to motivate more Black males who wish to seek support. This potential increase in motivation could help to mitigate, if not eradicate, existing stigmas."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Tradition. religion. shame : a single case study on the stigmatization of Black American males who seek mental health support."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Pratt, Sarah Smitherman."],"dc:creator":["Fisher, Tarik, 1974-"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2024-12-19T19:45:42Z"],"dc:date.available":["2024-12-19T19:45:42Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2024-08"],"dc:description.abstract":["Mental health within the Black community is a complicated issue, influenced by numerous factors that contribute to the reluctance of those in the community to seek certified mental health support. The stigma surrounding mental health plays a significant role, as individuals often feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek assistance due to fear of judgment or labeling. This reluctance is further aggravated by a historical mistrust of the healthcare system, stemming from experiences of racism and discrimination, which particularly impact those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Religious beliefs also traditionally shape attitudes toward mental health, although there have been doubts concerning its effectiveness in addressing mental health issues. Moreover, stigma, especially among Black males, promotes a significant reluctance to seek support, driven by societal and communal pressures, among other elements, leading to a perpetuation of cultural norms that discourage the admission of a need for support. This single-case study included Black males who seek or provide mental health services, and data were collected through an interview or a questionnaire. Data analysis involved data organization, transcription, and manual coding, with emerging themes categorized and connected to existing literature and the study's framework. Findings indicated that, while communal stigmatic attitudes remain concerning mental health as well as continued heavy reliance on religious counseling, there has been a cross-generational decrease in the reluctance to seek certified mental health support among Black males. Participants reported having little or no feelings of weakness or emasculation resulting from their decision to seek mental health support services. However, the study also indicated a monoethnic preference when seeking mental support services, underscoring the importance of representation and inclusion in the field of mental health services. One implication from the finding includes a need to leverage support from Black pastoral leaders to contribute in positive ways to support the shift away from stigmatizing those who seek mental health support. Additionally, sufficient and proportional diverse representation among mental health providers should be systematically addressed to motivate more Black males who wish to seek support. This potential increase in motivation could help to mitigate, if not eradicate, existing stigmas."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/2104/13156"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:rights":["Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission."],"dc:subject":["Mental health support.","Stigma.","Stigmatic attitudes.","Tradition.","Religion."],"dc:title":["Tradition. religion. shame : a single case study on the stigmatization of Black American males who seek mental health support."],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ed.D."],"thesis:institution_name":["Baylor University."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:07:56Z"}