Depression In Black Men Essay

What is depression? Depression is a mood disorder that results in a lack of interest or pleasure in things that one would normally find enjoyable and includes a variety of symptoms such as abnormal appetite, body aches/pain, and feelings of hopelessness and/or helplessness (Perkins, Kelly, & Lasiter, 2014). Some causes for depression can be due to genetics, hormone imbalances in the brain, situational crises, and/or everyday environmental stressors (Perkins et al., 2014). Although many studies about depression have been conducted over the years, little is known about the mental health of young Black men because majority of these studies were “initially developed and tested for European Americans” (Perkins et al., 2014). The research article titled “Our Depression is Different”: Experiences and Perceptions of Depression in Young Black Men with a History of Incarceration explores the minds of 20 Black men, between the ages of 20 and 35, who were recruited from a community program that aids

While traditional depression screening tools can be used it would prove more helpful to take into consideration the cultural and social background as well as client literacy as it relates to questions about depression. A one-to-one interview offers the best opportunity to identify depression in these young men (Perkins et al., 2014). As it has been discovered through this study, many young Black men feel as though they are invisible and no one cares about their mental health (Perkins et al., 2014). By establishing a therapeutic relationship based on the knowledge regarding deviations from traditional depressive symptoms that are not included in standard depressive screening tools, such as anger, may be helpful in encouraging help-seeking behaviors among this population (Perkins et al.,