“The State of Your Psyche”: Black Conceptualizations of Mental Health

Abstract

Using structured-tabular thematic analysis, this study examines Black people’s conceptualizations of mental health in response to the following question: What is mental health? Sixty participants reported an array of interrelated characteristics pertaining to mental health. Five themes were identified across participant responses, including: (a) Overarching Orientation to Mental Health, (b) Integrated Parts of a Whole, (c) Dynamic Balance, (d) Existentialism, and (e) Locus of Control. Implications influence how researchers and mental health practitioners may better address mental health with Black clients.

Keywords

mental health Black people holism integrated healing balance

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