Examining the Experienced Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Treatment Among Metropolitan Millennial Black Men

The increase in the prevalence of mental illness among Black millennials has led to more awareness and advocacy within the generation. However, Black millennial men are still utilizing counseling services at significantly lower rates than millennial Black women and men of other races. Consequently, this can lead to the increase of suicide completions and undiagnosed mental health issues among Black men who experience more severe and disabling symptoms of mental illness. Negative stigma associated with counseling is prevalent in the Black community, especially among Black men, and little attention has been given to research the barriers to treatment they experience. Based on past reported themes, Black Masculinity and Critical Race Theory are utilized as a multi-dimensional framework for this phenomenological study to provide in-depth information on the barriers to counseling experienced by metropolitan millennial Black men. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of the semi-structured interviews of this study, results indicated the following three themes as experienced barriers: Black Pride, Classical Masculinity, and Negative perceptions of mental health and counseling. Implications for improving advocacy efforts by mental health professional and advocates as well as future research are provided.