Innovative ways to address mental health needs of African Americans: and exploratory study examining the importance of understanding how African American clergy conceptualize and attribute causation of mental illness

The purpose of this study is to examine how African American clergy conceptualize and attribute causation of mental illness and how these factors affect their ability to respond and provide services to individuals seeking help with mental illness. This study focuses on clergy’s ability to recognize mental illness, the cause they attribute to the mental illness presented, and their perceived ability to provide assistance as well as their decision-making process used in the type of assistance they would provide to individuals in need of help. A convenience sample of African American clergy members and seminary students were given the Clergy’s Perception of Mental Illness Survey (CPMI), which was developed with various instruments. The CPMI had three sections: (1) the demographic section, (2) presentation of vignettes and follow-up questions regarding causal attribution, decision-making, and beliefs about ability level, and (3) additional questions. A total of 2,970 potential participants were contacted; however, only 125 complete and usable surveys were returned. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the variables conceptualization and causal attribution and the variables belief about ability level and decision making processes. Out of seven hypotheses explored, only one hypothesis was found to be statistically significant. Clergy who attributed cause to spiritual reasons or other life circumstances were more likely to have attempted to advise in a spiritual manner. Additionally, a direct relationship was found between the individual variable type of degree seeking and attempting to advise in a spiritual manner suggesting that participants seeking higher degrees were more likely to advise in a spiritual manner. A direct relationship was also found between attributing cause to spiritual or other life circumstances were more likely to advise in a spiritual manner. Due to the exploratory nature of the study and the absence of an abundance of literature related to this area, a theoretical framework was provided to show the importance of continued research in this area. The exploratory nature of the study is noted as one of numerous limitations of this study. Implications of social work education, practice, research, and policy are discussed in detail.