ABSTRACT

Under-utilization of mental health resources by Black students stands in sharp contrast to exploding demand for clinical services on campus. Review of existing literature indicates that African-Americans experience unique patterns of stress exposure throughout childhood and on predominantly White college campuses. Cultural preferences, underrepresentation of providers of color and lack of culturally relevant intervention models contribute to perpetuating college mental health disparities. Changing Minds, Changing Lives, a strength-based resilience training model, promotes healthy adaptation to college life among Black male college students in the absence of a shared socio-cultural identity between facilitators and participants. Participants report both positive psychosocial skill development and personal transformation following the 5-week, ten session CMCL academic course. Qualitative data indicate that model design factors promoting group norms of authenticity, mutuality, reciprocity and deliberate de-centering of professional authority contribute more to transformational change than facilitator identity. Group-as-a-whole mirroring and resulting cultural resonance appear to enable the model to serve as an effective psychological wellness opportunity structure for students of color during the transition to college. Implications for improving college mental health systems and better meeting the needs of students of color are discussed.

摘要

黑人学生对心理健康资源的利用不足与校园对临床服务的需求激增形成鲜明对比。对现有文献的回顾表明，非洲裔美国人在整个童年时期以及主要在怀特大学校园内经历着独特的压力暴露方式。文化偏好，色彩提供者代表性不足以及缺乏与文化相关的干预模型，助长了大学心理健康方面的差距。改变思想，改变生活是一种基于力量的适应力训练模型，可促进黑人男性大学生健康适应大学生活，而促进者和参与者之间缺乏共同的社会文化认同。参加者在5周后报告了积极的社会心理技能发展和个人转变，十届CMCL学术课程。定性数据表明，模型设计因素可促进真实性，相互性，互惠性和专业权威的故意偏心化等群体规范，而对促进变革的贡献则要大于促进者的身份。整体镜像和由此产生的文化共鸣似乎使该模型成为有色人种向大学过渡期间的有效心理健康机会结构。讨论了改善大学心理健康系统和更好地满足有色人种学生需求的意义。互助和故意的专业权力分散比促进者的身份更能促进变革。整体镜像和由此产生的文化共鸣似乎使该模型成为有色人种向大学过渡期间的有效心理健康机会结构。讨论了改善大学心理健康系统和更好地满足有色人种学生需求的意义。互助和故意的专业权力分散比促进者的身份更能促进变革。整体镜像和由此产生的文化共鸣似乎使该模型成为有色人种向大学过渡期间的有效心理健康机会结构。讨论了改善大学心理健康系统和更好地满足有色人种学生需求的意义。