Older African Americans and Mental Health

Speakers: Martha R. Crowther, PhD, MPH and Danielle McDuffie, MA

Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Time: 10am–12pm PT/11am-1pm MT/12-2pm CT/1-3pm ET

African American older adults are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and dementia. Assessment of depression, anxiety, and dementia among African American elders is complicated by potential differences in symptom presentation or reporting and a lack of assessment instruments validated for use with ethnically diverse older populations. Disparities in treatment for African Americans elders are exacerbated for several reasons including, failure to access formal treatment, differences in symptomatology response to treatment, lack of available mental health resources, and stigma.  

The presentation will describe important issues for mental health researchers and service providers to consider when working with older African Americans. It also provides a review of the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of depression, anxiety, and dementia among this population.  

Learning Objectives:  

• Recognize the importance of understanding the historical context of the lives of older African Americans.
• Recognize the importance of eliciting the older African American’s perspective of his/her mental and physical health problems.
• Elicit socio-cultural and spiritual beliefs that could influence older African Americans’ health care choices and access to care.
• Enhance knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of major mental health disorders when working with older African Americans.  

Please register HERE.

Continuing Education Information

In support of improving patient care, Rush University Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This activity is being presented without bias and with/without commercial support.

Rush University Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of Two (2) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Rush University Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of Two (2) nursing contact hour(s).

This activity is being presented without bias and without commercial support.

Rush University is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000272), occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, social work (159.001203), nutrition, and speech-audiology by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.

Rush University designates this live activity for (2) Continuing Education credit(s).

Rush University Medical Center designates this activity for Two (2) CE credits in psychology.

Note: the E4 Center is not certified with the State of New York to provide psychology continuing education.