Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Nursing

Date of Defense

4-21-2026

Graduate Advisor

Julie Bertram, Ph.D.

Committee

Sheila Grigsby, Ph.D.

Tchule Moore, Ed.D.

Joshua Minks, Ph.D.

Wilma Calvert, Ph.D.

Abstract

Approximately one-third of African Americans and Caribbean Blacks who require mental health services seek and utilize them (Evans & Sheu, 2019). Research has shown that stigma surrounding mental health treatment contributes to lower rates of professional help-seeking among Black Americans (Pederson, 2023). Despite the growing diversity within the Black community, limited research exists on how stigma influences professional mental health help-seeking among Africans living in the United States.

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the effect of public stigma on the mental health help-seeking behaviors of Africans living in the United States. Demographic data were collected, followed by administration of the Perceptions of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Help (PSOSH) instrument to assess perceptions of public stigma related to seeking mental health care. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted to obtain qualitative data. Purposeful and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit nine African participants living in the United States who met the inclusion criteria.

Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Five major themes and 18 subthemes emerged: (1) sociocultural factors influencing stigma, (2) common misconceptions about mental illness, (3) intersectionality, (4) adaptability, and (5) strategies for promoting mental health awareness, supportive practices, and stigma reduction. Findings highlighted how sociocultural influences and misconceptions perpetuate stigma and shape experiences with mental illness and professional help-seeking. Participants also identified strategies to promote awareness and reduce stigma. Overall, these findings may contribute to improving treatment engagement and mental health outcomes within the African community.

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