Document Type
Article
Version Deposited
Published Version
Publication Date
3-19-2025
Publication Title
Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open
DOI
10.1136/tsaco-2024-001560
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite being high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, Black men survivors of gun violence, and particularly young men aged 18-24, seldom participate in mental health services after injury. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to participation in mental health services for this population.
METHODS: Over a 2-year period, 1 hour-long focus group was conducted with three counselors of the local hospital-based violence intervention program and 21 individual, semistructured in-depth interviews were held with Black men who were hospitalized for a firearm-related injury. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded using open coding and grounded theory methodology and ultimately grouped into themes using MAXQDA V.2022 software.
RESULTS: Median age of participants was 34 years (IQR=11). Barriers to participation revolved around competing priorities/stressors, expense, difficulty with trust and openness and the demands of street life. Motivating factors included cultural competence, persistence, availability, reliability and genuineness of the therapy staff. Most participants denied negative social stigma of therapy as a barrier but emphasized that the individual must value therapy to participate. Young, Black men were perceived as struggling with self and peer-imposed views of masculinity that conflicted with therapy participation.
CONCLUSION: Black men who have experienced violent firearm injury face strong social pressures that conflict with participation in mental health services. Programs must be integrated with other social services and be responsive to community conditions to be successful.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.
Recommended Citation
Major, Erin; Thomas, Celina; Healy, Charlotte; VanderStoep, Amy; Richardson, Joseph B; Scalea, Thomas M; and Harfouche, Melike N, "Crossing the Chasm: Engaging Black Men Survivors of Gun Violence in Mental Health Services" (2025). Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research. 279.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/som_facpub/279
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Published Citation
Erin Major, Celina Thomas, Charlotte Healy, Amy VanderStoep, Joseph B. Richardson, Thomas M. Scalea, Melike N. Harfouche - Crossing the chasm: engaging Black men survivors of gun violence in mental health services: Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open 2025;10:e001560.
Included in
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Community Psychology Commons, Health and Medical Administration Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Social Psychology Commons
