Current Projects
Achieving Equity in the Diagnosis of Black Men’s Distress and Depression
Depression is diagnosed in women at higher rates than men, but men are more likely to experience issues associated with psychological distress and depression such as dying by suicide, being diagnosed with substance use disorders. Black men’s rates of developing and dying from chronic illnesses associated with stress and depression, their experiences with anti-Black structural racism, and the persistence of misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of their mental health needs warrants attention. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) may fail to capture the signs and symptoms of depression because the DSM symptom clusters were derived from research that may not have sufficiently considered cultural, gendered or racial heterogeneity in symptoms. We propose four specific aims: (1) Explore the ways that Black men understand, experience, and describe psychological distress; (2) Identify structural and systemic drivers and social influences of distress in Black men; (3) Examine the social, psychological, and emotional coping strategies Black men use in response to distress; and (4) Examine how well measures of depression capture the dimensions of distress salient to Black men who are young adults, middle-aged or older adults. Using community engaged and mixed methods approaches focusing exclusively on Black men will refine how we diagnose depression and identify and treat Black men in need of mental health services.
If you or someone you know may be interested in participating in this research opportunity, click the link below to complete the brief eligibility screener.
MenCare Changemaker Journey
In collaboration with Global Action on Men’s Health, Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, and WOW – Women of the World, we are co-leading the Men’s Health & Health for All action track of the global MenCare Changemaker Journey to solve some of the most significant problems facing men, boys, and manhood. This action track will examine solutions for men’s mental and physical health and identify ways health systems can support them. Among the challenges to be addressed: How can we bring needed attention to men’s health while also engaging men as allies for the health of all?
The Real Face of Men’s Health: 2025 United States Report
This report aims to drive progress in the men’s health space by utilizing a health equity lens. Doing so will propel more of the discoveries into sustainable interventions that will lead to healthier, longer lives for boys and men and help build thriving communities around them.
By improving men’s health, we hope to not only help men directly but also support future generations and the communities that surround them. We believe that healthier men lead to healthier relationships, healthier families and healthier communities.
Fathers and Children Exercising Together (FACEiT)
Dr. Derek Griffith serves as a consultant on this study that is working to analyze the degree to which fathers can influence their children’s health by incorporating exercise into family activities. In the first phase of development of the study, a focus group of African American fathers will be gathered to gauge interest in intervention to increase physical activity in their kids, what activities they feel would be most effective, and what time of day would work best with their families’ schedules. In particular, the study will target those fathers with children in the age range of 6 to 10 years old. In the second phase, the feedback gathered from the focus group will be incorporated into and inform a pre-developed intervention plan.
Former Projects
Mighty Men: A Faith-based weight loss program to reduce cancer disparities
Mighty Men was a 6-month faith-based weight-loss intervention for obese African American men 35-74 years old. It includes weekly meetings of small group sessions for men to engage in exercise or health education. Mighty Men was piloted in Atlanta, GA and Washington D.C.
The main goal of Mighty Men was to help men lose weight and maintain weight loss by focusing on increasing weekly levels of exercise and leisure time physical activity.
In addition to weekly small group sessions, the project also used tailored goals and SMS text messages to encourage healthy behavior changes.
AIM CCI Fatherhood Focus Groups
In partnership with the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Community Care Initiative (AIM CCI) and the National Healthy Start Association, we conducted a series of focus groups with new fathers about their experiences surrounding fatherhood.
Focus Group Aims included: (1) Conduct focus groups to examine social, cultural and environmental factors that influence behaviors among new fathers, (2) Provide community perspectives on men’s experiences seeking care during and following the birthing experience, and (3) Center the knowledge of birthing fathers and communities in order to improve implementation of AIM quality improvement bundles to address the leading known causes of preventable severe maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States.
Focus group sites included:
– Atlanta, GA
– Grand Rapids, MI
– Fresno, CA
– New Orleans, LA
– Newark, NJ
– Tulsa, OK
The Movember Rooted & Rising Collective 2021
The inaugural Rooted & Rising Collective was an eleven-week program designed to support creators with tools, resources and mentoring to develop and grow their passions into sustainable creative businesses.
Growing a business is only part of being a successful creative. Creators thrive by also taking good care of themselves, giving back to their community, and looking out for those coming up behind them. Modeling and engaging in self-care practices is essential for Black men who are overburdened by historical and ongoing threats to their life-chances that compound stressors on their wellbeing. Movember understands that a well-intentioned program alone can’t solve these problems. However, we are committed to investing in innovative solutions that improve the mental health and quality of life for all men.
Rooted & Rising Collective is designed to equip creators with the tools and experiences to thrive personally and professionally while managing the stresses of growing a creative business, and to immerse them in storytelling approaches that encourage wellbeing practices within their audiences.
