JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Black college men are less likely to utilize formal, therapeutic in-person services for mental health concerns. As the use of mobile technologies and social media platforms are steadily increasing, it is important to conduct work that examines the future utility of digital tools and technologies in improving access to and uptake of mental health services for Black men.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to identify and understand college-attending, Black men’s needs and preferences for using digital health technologies and social media for stress and mental health symptom management.

Methods:

Interviews were conducted with Black male students (n = 11) from two racially diverse universities in the Midwestern United States. Participants were asked questions related to their current mental health needs and interest in using social media platforms and mobile-based apps for their mental health concerns. A thematic analysis was conducted.

Results:

Four themes emerged from the data, which were: 1) current stress relief strategies 2) tech-based support needs and preferences (subthemes: mobile-based support; social media-based support) 3) resource information dissemination considerations (subthemes: information learning expectations and preferences; information sharing preferences and behaviors) and 4) tech-based mental health support design considerations (subtheme: relatability). Participants were interested in using social media and digital technologies for their mental health concerns and needs; for example, phone notifications and visual-based mental health advertisements that promote awareness. Relatability was emphasized as a key factor for participants being interested in using digital mental health tools. Examples of methods for increasing relatability included having tools disseminated by minority-serving organizations and including components explicitly portraying Black men engaging in mental health support strategies. Men also discussed wanting to receive recommendations for stress relief, those that have been proven successful particularly for Black men, like themselves.

Conclusions:

The findings from this study provide insight into design and dissemination considerations for future work geared towards developing mental health messaging and digital interventions for young, Black men.