THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MINISTER AS A SOURCE OF HELP FOR SERIOUS PERSONAL CRISES - BRIDGE OR BARRIER TO MENTAL-HEALTH-CARE

Using data from the National Survey of Black Americans, this article e xplores the role of African American ministers in the help seeking of African Americans for serious emotional problems. The authors explore which demographic characteristics and psychosocial factors are related to contacting Black clergy for help, whether certain types of persona l problems increase the likelihood of clergy contact, and whether thos e who go to ministers are also likely to seek help from other professi onal help sources. Results indicate that women are more likely than me n to seek help from ministers. People with economic problems are less likely to contact clergy, while those with death or bereavement proble ms are more likely to seek help from the clergy. Regardless of the typ e or severity of the problem, those who contact clergy first are less likely to seek help from other professionals. It is recommended that A frican American clergy and mental health professionals engage in a mut ual exchange of information to increase access to professional care am ong African Americans with serious personal problems.