A Conceptual Model of Barriers to Mental Health Services among African Americans

There is a paucity of empirical research investigating potential causes of racial disparities in mental health status. However, a growing body of literature exists regarding barriers to mental health service utilization among African Americans. This literature suggests that African Americans experience greater difficulty in accessing mental health services than Caucasians (Hines-Martin, Malone, Kim, & Brown-Piper, 2003; McCarthy, 2001). Furthermore, African Americans who do gain access often face barriers to accurate mental health assessment and diagnosis, leading to a lack of effective mental health treatment (Baker & Bell, 1999; McCarthy, 2001; Snowden, 2001; Wang, Berglund, & Kessler, 2001).