Gender Differences in Social Support, Suicidal Ideation, and Mental Health Help-Seeking Among Black Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Study

While prior research has interrogated matters of suicide among Black young adults (i.e., 18 to 30 years old), few studies intentionally probe for gender differences during this developmental stage. In response to this concern, we analyzed data collected from ( N = 480) Black young adults who participated in an online cross-sectional survey. We used linear regression tests to measure the association between social support and suicidal ideation and applied qualitative content analysis techniques when asking participants to name their preferred sources of mental health support. Findings from the quantitative strand revealed no differences in suicidal ideation across gender groups. Results generated from the qualitative strand, however, demonstrate that young Black women more commonly reported turning to therapists and other mental health professionals, while young adult Black men more often reported turning to doctors instead. Notably, both groups listed that they relied on no one as their most common response. The divergence and similarities in the qualitative responses underscore the utility of mixed methods research and point to promising opportunities for advancements in suicide prevention research.