Lexington Books Mental Health among African Americans: Innovations in Research and Practice

In Mental Health among African Americans: Innovations in Research and Practice, Erlanger A. Turner presents a new theoretical framework for understanding mental health disparities that emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive clinical practices and integration of Afrocentric values in order to address the lower rates of African Americans seeking treatment in the United States. Turner traces this reluctance to the unethical scientific research practices that characterized experiments in recent history, like the well-known Tuskegee Syphilis study, and stresses the need for providers to address race-related stress. Review Erlanger A. Turner has written a foundational text for scholars and practitioners who want culturally-relevant and evidence-based information about the mental health of African Americans. This text is a seminal reading for the growing number of scholar-practitioner-activists who happily reside in the spaces between the African American community, the clinic, and the academy and aim to tackle the mental health challenges facing African Americans daily.--Daphne C. Watkins, University of Michigan It is now conventional wisdom that a one-size-fits-all approach in the delivery of mental health services does not take into consideration important cultural and racial dynamics, but it is still an issue. It likely contributes to the fact that African Americans still largely prefer informal sources of help rather than mental health professionals. Erlanger Turner addresses this issue by providing an important and needed overview of cultural and racial factors that impact the mental health of African Americans. Using a combination of research and his own clinical experience, Turner provides a road map for mental health professionals that will facilitate a more culturally-competent approach in the delivery of mental health services for African Americans.--Kevin Cokley, University of Texas at Austin "In Mental Health Among African Americans: Innovations in Research and Practice, Dr. Erlanger Turner has done a fine job of capturing both the smaller and bigger picture contexts, historical and contemporary, within which to understand, appreciate, and subsequently respond, to the mental health and wellness needs of African American and traditionally marginalized communities. Provided herein is a thought-provoking and engaging narrative aimed at promoting honest self-reflection, critical thinking and the need for tailored approaches that align best with the concerns and specific needs of African Americans. This important work also doubles as an invitation for scholars, practitioners, and consultants to translate their contemplative musings on this important topic into responsible advocacy that fuels action toward real change."--William D. Parham, Loyola Marymount University About the Author Erlanger A. Turner is assistant professor of psychology at University of Houston-Downtown.