ABSTRACT
Approximately 12% of United States citizens (33.9 million people) identify them selves as African American or black.1 African American individuals are among the least likely people to seek and receive mental health care services. The per centage of African American individuals suffering from psychopathology that gets treatment is only half that of non-Hispanic European individuals.2 In addition, non-Hispanic European clients are four to fi ve times more likely than African American clients to return for continued mental health services after initially being treated.3 Furthermore, African American individuals who do seek and receive treatment are more likely to use inpatient or emergency services, to be rehospitalized after inpatient services, and to be often admitted involuntarily to mental institutions than non-Hispanic European individuals.4-6 According to the United States Surgeon General, African American clients often receive lower quality care, are less likely to seek help when they are in distress, and have less access to services than other Americans.1
