Bridging the Gap: Exploring the Intersection of Formal Mental Health Services and Informal Social Supports in BIPOC Communities

<p>Despite growing awareness of mental health disparities, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities continue to face significant barriers in accessing culturally responsive mental health care. This dissertation explores the intersection between formal mental health services and informal social supports such as family, religious institutions, and community networks to understand which systems are more trusted, accessible, and effective for BIPOC individuals. Grounded in Urban Liberation Psychology and guided by decolonial and culturally responsive care frameworks, this qualitative study draws from focus groups and interviews with 33 participants, including both community members and service providers from the Chicagoland area and beyond. Thematic analysis revealed a marked preference for informal supports due to their cultural relevance and accessibility, though these networks often lacked the capacity to address complex mental health needs. Formal services were valued for their clinical expertise but were frequently viewed as inaccessible, stigmatized, or culturally misaligned. Findings highlight the need for integrated mental health models that bridge formal services with trusted community-based supports. The study introduces the Safe Harbor Healing Framework, a practice-informed model that promotes culturally competent, community-centered mental health care. Implications for policy, clinical practice, and future research underscore the importance of reimagining mental health systems through a lens of cultural humility, equity, and collective healing.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - Public Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Patton-Campbell, Patrice D

Contributors dc:contributor

• Raymond Legler
• Nicholas Carter
• Judah Viola

• BIPOC mental health
• informal social supports
• culturally responsive care
• decolonizing mental health
• community-based healing
• mental health disparities.
• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Clinical Psychology
• Community Psychology
• Counseling
• Counseling Psychology
• Health Policy
• Nonprofit Studies
• Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation
• Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Social Justice
• Theory and Philosophy
• Urban Studies
• Urban Studies and Planning

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/908

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.nl.edu:diss-1976