“You really got to think it’s safe”: trust and disclosure in mental health help-seeking among Black college men

Objective: To examine the social and contextual factors influencing mental health-related help-seeking among Black college men. Participants: Twenty Black undergraduate men aged 18–24 enrolled at a public university in the southeastern United States. Methods: Five focus groups were conducted between August and December 2019. The socioecological model (SEM) informed data collection, and data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Four interrelated themes emerged: (1) managing distress independently; (2) trust as the condition for disclosure; (3) delayed help-seeking and breaking points; and (4) navigating formal help across social and institutional contexts. Findings illustrated how independent coping, relational safety, recognition of need, cultural understanding, and institutional conditions shaped whether, when, and from whom participants sought support. Conclusions: College mental health initiatives should consider whether available pathways to support are perceived as safe, culturally responsive, and accessible. Relationship-centered approaches that strengthen trust, continuity, and pathways to earlier support may facilitate engagement.