New York City Faith-Based Leaders' Views on COVID-19's Impact on the Mental Health Needs of Black/African American Communities.
Saved in:
| Title: | New York City Faith-Based Leaders' Views on COVID-19's Impact on the Mental Health Needs of Black/African American Communities. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Roberts-Eversley, Nicole1 robertsn@mskcc.org, Williams, Tecora2, Hernández, Raúl1, Lynch, Kathleen A.1, Wu, Yumeng1, Rebollo, Gabriela1, Haider, Fariha2, Udom, Udeme2, Gany, Francesca3, Lubetkin, Erica4 |
| Source: | Journal of Community Health. Aug2025, Vol. 50 Issue 4, p623-637. 15p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Health services accessibility, *Qualitative research, *Church buildings, *Help-seeking behavior, *Experience, *Research, *Research methodology, *Quality of life, *Grief, Religious institutions, Wounds & injuries, Health attitudes, African Americans, Research funding, Mental health, Interviewing, Thematic analysis, Medical needs assessment, Social support, Quality assurance, COVID-19, Neighborhood characteristics, Social stigma, Well-being |
| Geographic Terms: | New York (State) |
| Abstract: | This investigation sought to understand the mental health needs of Black/African Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the church leaders' perspectives and experiences in supporting the mental health of their communities during this time. This exploratory qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews with 21 church leaders from predominantly Black neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Harlem, New York City (NYC), which were most adversely impacted by COVID-19. Neighborhoods were selected based on COVID-19 infection and mortality data from the NYC Department of Health. Transcripts were coded and thematically analyzed using Dedoose software. Four overarching themes and one subtheme emerged: (1) The COVID-19 pandemic amplified underlying community quality of life challenges, creating a "downward cascade" of mental health, (1a) COVID-19 is a source of collective grief and trauma; (2) Faith-based leaders play a key role in providing mental health support to their community; (3) Faith-based leaders seek strategies to reduce mental health stigma, normalize conversations around mental health; and (4) Faith-based leaders often operate in isolation from citywide mental health services, disconnected from existing programs and resources. Leaders anticipate a higher demand for mental health services. On the road to emotional wellness post-pandemic, public awareness of symptoms of mental health issues must be emphasized and available resources utilized to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking behavior. Addressing these implications requires comprehensive multi-sector community driven efforts that include collaboration with faith-based communities to support community resilience and improve mental healthcare access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Community Health is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | This investigation sought to understand the mental health needs of Black/African Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the church leaders' perspectives and experiences in supporting the mental health of their communities during this time. This exploratory qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews with 21 church leaders from predominantly Black neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Harlem, New York City (NYC), which were most adversely impacted by COVID-19. Neighborhoods were selected based on COVID-19 infection and mortality data from the NYC Department of Health. Transcripts were coded and thematically analyzed using Dedoose software. Four overarching themes and one subtheme emerged: (1) The COVID-19 pandemic amplified underlying community quality of life challenges, creating a "downward cascade" of mental health, (1a) COVID-19 is a source of collective grief and trauma; (2) Faith-based leaders play a key role in providing mental health support to their community; (3) Faith-based leaders seek strategies to reduce mental health stigma, normalize conversations around mental health; and (4) Faith-based leaders often operate in isolation from citywide mental health services, disconnected from existing programs and resources. Leaders anticipate a higher demand for mental health services. On the road to emotional wellness post-pandemic, public awareness of symptoms of mental health issues must be emphasized and available resources utilized to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking behavior. Addressing these implications requires comprehensive multi-sector community driven efforts that include collaboration with faith-based communities to support community resilience and improve mental healthcare access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 00945145 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10900-025-01443-z |
