Project Description Narrative:
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has described how “[m]ental health is the defining public health crisis of our time.” Statistics regarding mental health concerns of youth are now well-known and remain highly troubling. Approximately 20% of adolescents report significant depressive symptoms, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death for young people in the United States. Additionally, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACEs) identified that youth who have one or more adverse childhood experiences are more likely to develop mental health challenges, in addition to physical health concerns later in life.
Given that ACEs, general trauma, and social determinants of health factors are often experienced within urban populations and are related to mental health, it is critical to develop wellness promotion programs for urban youth and families. Unfortunately, a significant number of urban community members, particularly those from minoritized populations, experience limited openings for formal mental health services, cultural mismatch with mental and medical providers, and past experiences of racism within systems of care. This, along with the stigma regarding mental health and mental health resources within urban communities, can be barriers to care among those who need it most. This has underscored the need for community-based, public health-focused efforts to increase awareness and discussion of mental health concerns, which also decrease stigma associated with intervention and support strategies.
This project is a community-based partnership between Amani United, a neighborhood organization in Milwaukee, and the Medical College of Wisconsin, to facilitate discussion of mental health and wellness through a series of community forums. The Amani neighborhood in Milwaukee is home to approximately 7,000 residents, 95% of whom are African American. Fifty-five percent of the community have incomes below the federal poverty level, and the community experiences significant challenges to social determinants of health. Despite these challenges, the Amani neighborhood has a thriving network of organizational and community advocates, support resources, and spirit of resiliency that is dedicated to enhancing overall health and wellness. Specifically, Amani United leaders have expressed interest in promoting community awareness of how trauma negatively affects mental health and well-being, how techniques for building personal, family, and community wellness can improve overall health, and how supportive orientation to mental health services can reduce stigma.
Research suggests that specific programming to diminish mental health-related stigma can positively influence mental health promotion within a community. Additionally, Amani United expressed interest in evaluating whether this project could inform future mental health programming within the Amani neighborhood itself. The overall intended impact, as expressed by Amani United leadership, is to demonstrate that it is feasible to produce a series of community-based discussions on mental health and wellness; that these community talks will be favorably received by members of the community; and that these community talks can be sustained through integrating them into ongoing community-based health programming.