Project Title
Reducing Mental Illness Stigma in Black Communities in Ontario, Canada
Project Leads
Joseph Adu; Josephine Pui-Hing Wong; Priscilla Boakye; Michael Etowa
Objectives
The overall aim of this study is to promote mental health and reduce mental stigma in Black families and communities. Specifically, the study seeks to achieve the following objectives:
(1) To identify and examine the sociocultural and structural factors that (re)produce and/or challenge community silence and stigma of mental illness in Black families and communities;
(2) To interrogate the role of racism and discrimination in perpetuating community silence and stigma of mental illness in Black families and communities;
(3) To assess the mental health literacy in Black families and communities and identify facilitators that promote mental health at individual, family, and community levels; and
(4) To engage stakeholders in Black communities in co-designing a best practices model to inform inclusive policy and culturally safe mental health programming.
Research questions
(1) What factors produce and perpetuate community silence on mental health and mental illness stigma in Black families and communities in Canada?
(2) How does anti-Black racism perpetuate community silence?
(3) How does community silence create barriers to help-seeking and further decrease access to culturally safe and inclusive mental health programming in Black Families and Communities?
(4) How can critical mental health literacy be applied to break community silence and advance mental health equity in Black families and communities?
(5) How can engagement with stakeholders in Black communities contribute to co-designing a best practices model to inform inclusive policy and culturally safe mental health programming?
Background
The legacies of colonialism, slavery, and White supremacy connected with anti-Black racism have (re)produced intergenerational traumas that negatively affect the Mental Health of Black Canadians. These systemic barriers and discrimination (re)produce social and economic marginalization that compromise the psychosocial wellbeing of Black families and communities and put them at increased risk of mental illness, but some of them fail to talk about their mental illnesses. The reason could be what is called a ‘double edge problem’ – the fear of the existing systemic racism and discrimination against Black communities coupled with the persistent stigma associated with mental illnesses at all levels of society. However, few studies have examined how anti-Black racism and mental illness stigma interact to (re)produce mental health disparities in Black families and communities. This study will generate new knowledge to address this gap.
Methods
The study will use a mixed-method approach guided by a population health promotion framework underpinned by social justice principles. We will also apply critical race theory and an intersectionality framework to interrogate how anti-Black racism operates to produce and perpetuate mental illness stigma and mental health disparities in Black Families and Communities. This study will engage members of Black communities in three phases:
- Phase One: surveys (n=300)
- Phase Two: focus group (n=56);
- Phase Three: concept mapping with community interest holders (n=30) to co-create a best practices model to guide inclusive policy and practice.
Expected Outcomes
We anticipate many important results and impact: (1) new knowledge to inform mental health promotion interventions in Black families and communities. (2) increased mental health literacy and reduce stigma of mental illness; (3) a best practice model co-created by Black communities; and (4) contributions to research innovation.
Current Status
Phase One is in progress
Expected completion
July 2025
Funding
TMU Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black Scholars and Research Chair in Urban Health, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, TMU
Keywords
Black families and communities; stigma of mental illness, anti-Black racism, mental health literacy; health equity