ORCID
0009-0009-8618-2274
Abstract
Throughout history, research has depicted the notion that African Americans do not make use of mental health treatment, even when their mental health status may deem it clinically necessary. One of the most prevalent deterrents to African Americans seeking treatment is the mistrust of the medical system. In the African American community, medical mistrust has a longstanding history that stems from the discrimination, racism, lack of representation in the field, and medical mistreatment that African Americans received as test subjects by the medical community over time. Various instances, throughout history, of African Americans being unjustly treated— for the sake of progressing modern medicine—have been well documented. These occurrences fostered a feeling of medical mistrust in the African American community and, potentially, serve as a barrier to African Americans seeking mental health treatment despite exhibiting a need for it.
