N’t talk about it, you don’t discuss it’ (Ms M. an 85-yearold woman). ARA290 cancer Participants felt that the tendency to keep mental health concerns within the family is part of the African-American culture and the way that most Black folks were raised. When asked why she did not talk to anyone about her depression, one participant stated: `That’s the way most of us Black people were raised you know. What goes on in your house, you keep it to yourself and your family, keep your secrets your family secrets’ (Ms Y. a 94-year-old woman). Fear Participants expressed a sense of fear in the Black community ahout the repercussions of having a mental illness and of seeking treatment. Participants suggested that AfricanAmericans get treated worse when they have mental health problems, and therefore are often afraid of the consequences that accompany admitting you have a mental illness. A lot of them [African-Americans] are afraid that it will be on their record, like for life, and it would destroy them … come up somewhere and it would hurt them, and it would hurt your chances of getting a job or something. They GGTI298 chemical information wanted like to get over it [depression] but not let too many people know, not have it written down anywhere or that somebody could find out and use it against you later. (Ms L. a 73year-old woman). Multiple stigmas Participants discussed the impact of multiple stigmas, in that an individual experienced greater stigma when he or she has more than one stigmatizing condition in society. Participants recognized that as African-Americans, they experience the stigma of being aAging Ment Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 March 17.Conner et al.Pageracial minority as well as the stigma of being depressed. Interestingly, they felt that being depressed in the Black community is more stigmatizing than being depressed in other communities. Participants believed that African-Americans are more likely to stereotype and discriminate against other African-Americans who are depressed or are suffering from a mental illness. When asked if depression was generally accepted in the Black community. Ms R. an 85-year-old woman, stated: `I think they [Black community] would be less accepting.’ Ms D. a 70-year-old woman stated: `Depression is less accepted in the Black community. Because people just don’t have the patience … you know. They say. “You crazy.” and forget ya.’ Lack of information Participants often stated that the African-American community is less informed about depression, mental health, and mental health treatments than other communities. Participants believed that this absence of information leads to negative attitudes about seeking mental health treatment and reduced help seeking behaviors, simply because they were not made aware of the opportunities available to them, For example. Mr J, a 65-year-old man stated: `I didn’t even know there was a treatment. I didn’t know you could get treated for depression. I thought if you had it, depression, they just go out and kill themselves… I didn’t know you could get help,’ Other participants agreed that the lack of information and education negatively impacts African-AmerIcans’ decisions about seeking mental health treatment. Participants felt that oftentimes African-Americans simply do not want treatment. When asked why she thought African-Americans sought mental health treatment at much lower rates than White Americans, one participant stated: `Because Black people don’t want treatment. I think.N’t talk about it, you don’t discuss it’ (Ms M. an 85-yearold woman). Participants felt that the tendency to keep mental health concerns within the family is part of the African-American culture and the way that most Black folks were raised. When asked why she did not talk to anyone about her depression, one participant stated: `That’s the way most of us Black people were raised you know. What goes on in your house, you keep it to yourself and your family, keep your secrets your family secrets’ (Ms Y. a 94-year-old woman). Fear Participants expressed a sense of fear in the Black community ahout the repercussions of having a mental illness and of seeking treatment. Participants suggested that AfricanAmericans get treated worse when they have mental health problems, and therefore are often afraid of the consequences that accompany admitting you have a mental illness. A lot of them [African-Americans] are afraid that it will be on their record, like for life, and it would destroy them … come up somewhere and it would hurt them, and it would hurt your chances of getting a job or something. They wanted like to get over it [depression] but not let too many people know, not have it written down anywhere or that somebody could find out and use it against you later. (Ms L. a 73year-old woman). Multiple stigmas Participants discussed the impact of multiple stigmas, in that an individual experienced greater stigma when he or she has more than one stigmatizing condition in society. Participants recognized that as African-Americans, they experience the stigma of being aAging Ment Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 March 17.Conner et al.Pageracial minority as well as the stigma of being depressed. Interestingly, they felt that being depressed in the Black community is more stigmatizing than being depressed in other communities. Participants believed that African-Americans are more likely to stereotype and discriminate against other African-Americans who are depressed or are suffering from a mental illness. When asked if depression was generally accepted in the Black community. Ms R. an 85-year-old woman, stated: `I think they [Black community] would be less accepting.’ Ms D. a 70-year-old woman stated: `Depression is less accepted in the Black community. Because people just don’t have the patience … you know. They say. “You crazy.” and forget ya.’ Lack of information Participants often stated that the African-American community is less informed about depression, mental health, and mental health treatments than other communities. Participants believed that this absence of information leads to negative attitudes about seeking mental health treatment and reduced help seeking behaviors, simply because they were not made aware of the opportunities available to them, For example. Mr J, a 65-year-old man stated: `I didn’t even know there was a treatment. I didn’t know you could get treated for depression. I thought if you had it, depression, they just go out and kill themselves… I didn’t know you could get help,’ Other participants agreed that the lack of information and education negatively impacts African-AmerIcans’ decisions about seeking mental health treatment. Participants felt that oftentimes African-Americans simply do not want treatment. When asked why she thought African-Americans sought mental health treatment at much lower rates than White Americans, one participant stated: `Because Black people don’t want treatment. I think.
