Date of Conferral

8-17-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Antoinette Pigatt

Abstract

African American communities have exhibited greater vulnerability in psychological functioning and well-being, and usage of mental health services for evaluation and treatment are lower than for other groups, due to a range of barriers, including geographic location and lack of access. There is a lack of research on the difficulties African Americans face in accessing mental health services in U.S. rural communities. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore, from a phenomenological approach, the lived experiences of African American adults residing in rural Pennsylvania mid-U.S. Eastern Coastal communities in regard to accessing mental health services. The social-ecological model and its constructs provided a deeper understanding of the study topic. The participants were five African American adults who resided in the study area, were clinically diagnosed with a mental disorder, and were accessing or had previously accessed mental health services. Data from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis process. The three themes that were identified were the facilitators of, and barriers to, participants’ accessing mental health services and the need for culturally competent providers. Facilitators included social supports, a desire to manage mental health, and reduced stigma associated with accessing mental health services. A barrier included the lack of mental health services in participants’ rural communities. The findings may contribute to positive social change by increasing awareness and understanding of the lived experiences of participants and the challenges they face. To bolster the transferability of the findings, future researchers should include a diverse group of African American adults.

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