Black Millennial Mental Health: A Critical Phenomenological Inquiry of Mental Health Help-Seeking Attitudes and Behaviors in the U.S.
Open Access DepositedThis is a dissertation study that utilized qualitative hermeneutic critical phenomenological analysis to explore lived experiences of mental health help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, successes and challenges in professional psychological help, and promotion of psychological wellbeing. Participants were 14 U.S.-born Black Millennials who resided in Washington, DC Metro area. A multidimensional theoretical framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior integrated with Critical Race Theory yielded success in the production of anti-oppressive, strength-based counternarratives. Findings revealed a profound shift in mental health help-seeking, where Black Millennials merge historical and current social thought around mental health in the Black community to promote their own psychological wellbeing. This shift is demonstrated through 13 themes including: Stereotypes in Upbringing, Shedding Old Narratives, Stigma Tolerance, Shifting Social Norms, Pivotal Pandemic, Black Masculinity and Mental Health, Permanence of Racism, Cultivation of Positive Mental Health, Integration of Spirituality and Mental Health, Barriers, Representation Matters, Millennials as Advocates, and Civic Duty. Recommendations for clinicians in practice, academics in counselor education, researchers, and stakeholders to promote optimal mental health in Black Millennials are discussed. Keywords: Black Millennials, mental health help-seeking, professional psychological help, phenomenological qualitative research methods, Theory of Planned Behavior and Critical Race Theory
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