A Critical Review on Enhancing Equity of Mental Health Treatment of African American Families Through Social Support and Social Capital

Authors

• Julie Radlauer-Doerfler, Collectively- A Radlauer VentureFollow
• Morgan E. Cooley, Florida Atlantic UniversityFollow
• Heather M. Thompson, Florida Atlantic UniversityFollow
• Atensia Earp Bowen, Florida Atlantic UniversityFollow
• Gabe Caress, Duke UniversityFollow
• Alicia Best, Morehouse School of MedicineFollow

Abstract

African American adults and children experience both disproportionality and disparity when in contact with the mental health delivery system. There are a number of contextual factors that influence the treatment of African American families, such as systemic oppression or racism in both society and the behavioral health system or individual expressions of mental health symptomology. This review will provide an overview of how mental health disparities crossover systems, perceptions of mental health and mental health treatment among African American families, provide some context for why this review was written, as well as discuss the context of social support and social capital as a means of enhancing the equity of mental health treatment for African American families.

Recommended Citation

Radlauer-Doerfler, Julie; Cooley, Morgan E.; Thompson, Heather M.; Earp Bowen, Atensia; Caress, Gabe; and Best, Alicia (2025) "A Critical Review on Enhancing Equity of Mental Health Treatment of African American Families Through Social Support and Social Capital," Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://spark.bethel.edu/jiswpr/vol1/iss1/6

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