Screening for Depression in African-American Churches

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Disparities
• Community-Based Interventions

Background:

• Racial and ethnic disparities in depression identification and management are significant.
• Faith-based health promotion has proven effective for various health screenings.
• The feasibility of depression screening in faith-based settings remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of using a validated instrument for depression screening within African-American churches.
• To evaluate the utility of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in this specific population and setting.

Main Methods:

• A participatory research approach was employed in three New York City African-American churches.
• 122 participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) between October and November 2012.
• Logistic regression analyzed associations between positive screens (PHQ-9 score ≥10) and sociodemographic factors.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of positive depression screens was 19.7%.
• Men (22.5%) had a higher positive screen rate than women (17.7%).
• Lower household income correlated with a higher likelihood of positive depression screens; help-seeking occurred equally via primary care and clergy.

Conclusions:

• Depression screening using the PHQ-9 is feasible in African-American churches.
• A high prevalence of positive depression screens indicates a significant need within this population.
• Churches represent a vital venue for identifying depressive symptoms in underserved communities.