New York City Faith-Based Leaders' Views on COVID-19's Impact on the Mental Health Needs of Black/African American Communities

This investigation sought to understand the mental health needs of Black/African Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the church leaders' perspectives and experiences in supporting the mental health of their communities during this time. This exploratory qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews with 21 church leaders from predominantly Black neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Harlem, New York City (NYC), which were most adversely impacted by COVID-19. Neighborhoods were selected based on COVID-19 infection and mortality data from the NYC Department of Health. Transcripts were coded and thematically analyzed using Dedoose software. Four overarching themes and one subtheme emerged: (1) The COVID-19 pandemic amplified underlying community quality of life challenges, creating a "downward cascade" of mental health, (1a) COVID-19 is a source of collective grief and trauma; (2) Faith-based leaders play a key role in providing mental health support to their community; (3) Faith-based leaders seek strategies to reduce mental health stigma, normalize conversations around mental health; and (4) Faith-based leaders often operate in isolation from citywide mental health services, disconnected from existing programs and resources. Leaders anticipate a higher demand for mental health services. On the road to emotional wellness post-pandemic, public awareness of symptoms of mental health issues must be emphasized and available resources utilized to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking behavior. Addressing these implications requires comprehensive multi-sector community driven efforts that include collaboration with faith-based communities to support community resilience and improve mental healthcare access.