Masks Off: A Community-Based Psychoeducational Group Intervention with Black Women

ABSTRACT

Black women experience psychological distress yet are less likely to receive mental health services. Although the barriers to service use are documented, fewer efforts have centered on interventions to mitigate these barriers. This article presents Masks Off, a community-based psychoeducational group intervention that may increase mental health service utilization and wellness among Black women. Pilot data extracted from a sample of Black women (n = 37; M = 43.71 years) suggested the intervention was well received and supported women’s development of adaptive thoughts related to strong Black womanhood and wellness. Implications related to group work with Black women are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Black women
• mental health
• strong Black woman
• psychoeducation
• group work

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Alia Jones for her assistance in the early revision of this manuscript and Alexis Jones for her assistance organizing the intervention.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. In this paper, we use the terms “psychoeducational intervention” and “psychoeducational group” to refer to groups that facilitate individuals’ personal and interpersonal growth and development (McCarthy et al., 2022).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the American Psychological Association Office for Early Career Professionals and the American Psychological Foundation Division 49: Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy Grant.

Notes on contributors

Martinque K. Jones

Martinque K. Jones, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Texas in the Counseling Psychology program.

Gabriella Gaskin-Cole

Gabriella Gaskin-Cole is a counseling psychology doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas.

Akilah Reynolds

Akilah A. Reynolds, PhD, is a licensed psychologist working in a group private practice, The Black Girl Doctor, and training director at a community mental health center.