Lessons learned using CBPR to strengthen maternal mental health and family resilience in a southern, low income, urban community

Mothers raising children in disordered neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by negative health outcomes, poverty, and other stressors that compromise optimal mental health. Because untreated depression in mothers has adverse long-term effects on her children, efforts to reduce depression could benefit mothers, children and potentially, future generations. However, a dearth of relevant programs coupled with heightened stigma in the African American community inhibits depressed mothers from seeking social support and/or treatment. Academic researchers and community residents formed a coalition to address these issues. Formative research methods were used to identify the most salient factors contributing to mental health functioning of mothers in an urban southern community. Based on the needs and stressors identified, the coalition developed and pilot tested a culturally appropriate mental health promotion intervention.

Key aspects of successful implementation identified by community partners: 1) direct and ongoing involvement of those affected by maternal mental health; 2) capitalizing on each partners expertise (academic partners increased community members' data management and analysis skills, while community partners increased academicians' understanding of the extent to which community issues can affect the validity and reliability of results); 3) novel implementation strategy that is both self-sustaining and community-owned; and 4) equal voice among partners throughout planning, implementation and evaluation.

Key mental health findings identified the need to: 1) shift the focus from mental illness to mental and emotional health; 2) create a public awareness campaign of women's mental health needs; 3) improve local policies to increase community access to existing mental health services.