What is the public health significance of this article? More than ever, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, communities of color need both outreach and effective treatment. This study strongly suggests that once well engaged, psychotherapy effectiveness can be optimized for everyone, particularly in regard to ethnoracial and gender identity. This shows promise around the case conceptualization of a cultural formulation interview and cultural humility mindset. Through better understanding of how clients' various social and cultural identities impact treatment outcomes, these findings can continue to pave the way for more inclusive, culturally informed, and effective treatment for those who need it most. Objective: Psychotherapy access, utilization, retention, and effectiveness require continued improvement, especially for groups for whom availability and outcomes may be currently suboptimal, including ethnoracial minorities. Further, ethnoracial status' intersectionality with other identity variables (e.g., gender) may relate to structural barriers to care and effectiveness of care, an area in need of further research. Method: The Florida State University Psychology Clinic, a low-cost population-facing treatment center, has routinely collected clinically relevant information on all consenting clients, including severity of clinical presentation at intake and over time, number of therapy sessions attended and of no-shows, premature termination, demographics, etc. A large sample of clients (N = 2,076; 57% women; 67.9% non-Hispanic White) on whom we collected and entered at least some data, though missing data were common, has accrued. We conducted chi-square tests to examine treatment utilization gaps, analysis of variance to measure differences in intake severity, and analysis of covariance to measure differences in treatment effectiveness. Results: Based on the percentages of ethnoracial minority groups with mental disorders in the broader local community, we are falling short in outreach to Black clients, and when we do engage them, we retain them suboptimally. Once well engaged, however, results across groups suggest few differences in outcomes by ethnoracial status, gender, or their intersection. Ethnoracial match was associated with more sessions attended in Black people. Conclusions: Psychotherapy effectiveness has the potential to be optimized for everyone, and a promising direction in this regard is the case conceptualization of a cultural formulation interview and cultural humility mindset.

Background: As a result of the intergenerational trauma impact and experience, Native Americans continue to exhibit trauma-related issues such as high rates of substance use. After leaving high school, the pressures and stress of continuing an education, finding work/employment, and the responsibilities related to family and tribal community obligations result in the Native American young adult being more vulnerable to substance use. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to report findings of the Talking Circle intervention impact on the outcome variables of Native-Reliance, substance use, stress, and behavioural health, depression, and cumulative trauma. Methods: Native-Reliance was the theoretical underpinning for the study, demonstrating culturally safe research. A pre-test/post-test one-group design was utilised to examine how the Talking Circle intervention influenced the outcome variables. In total, 75 Native American participants, ages 18–24, participated in the Talking Circle intervention sessions. Baseline pre-intervention measures were completed and were repeated at 6-month post-intervention. Results: At 6-month post-intervention, Native-Reliance significantly revealed an increase of 40.55 (t = 22.13, p < .001), sources of stress (SS) revealed a significant decline of 3.68 (t = −18.39, p < .001), behavioural health issues (BH) showed a significant decline of 3.63 (t = −15.36, p < .001), substance-related issues (SR) showed a significant decline of 3.57 (t = −15.24, p < .001), depression (PHQ-9) showed a significant decline of 4.85 (t = −17.02, p < .001), and cumulative trauma revealed a significant decline of 2.77 (t = −13.39, p < .001). Conclusions: The use of a culturally safe Talking Circle intervention evidenced a research approach that resulted in a positive impact on reducing substance use and increasing the well-being of young Native American young adults. Impact Statement: Culturally safer intervention environments are conducive to results in outcomes that are positive and effective.

Background: African American women have an elevated risk for experiencing depressive symptoms, and discrimination, stress, and coping contribute to symptoms of depression. Aims: We aimed to examine the associations between discrimination, stress, and coping on symptoms of depression among young African American mothers. Methods: In this retrospective study, we utilized a hierarchical linear regression to explore the effects of perceived racial discrimination, stress, and general and discrimination-related coping responses on depressive symptoms in a sample of African American mothers ( N = 250). The data were drawn from the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure study (InterGEN), a study conducted between 2014 and 2019 and based in Connecticut. Results: After accounting for maternal age, level of education, and income, greater perceived racial discrimination ( p = .03), higher levels of stress ( p < .001), greater engagement in avoidance coping ( p < .001), and use of passive coping responses to discrimination ( p = .04) were uniquely associated with increased depressive symptoms. Other forms of coping, specifically, problem-solving and support seeking, did not appear to influence depressive symptoms in this sample. Conclusion: The findings highlight the negative impact of discrimination, heightened stress, and maladaptive coping on the emotional health of young African American mothers.

This study was conducted in Florida among two urban Native American youth programs that are sponsored by urban Native American community organizations. Convenience and snowballing were used as a sample recruitment strategy. Assignment to the experimental condition (UTC) and the control condition (SE) was established by randomizing the two community youth program sites to the two conditions. Utilization of a culturally relevant theory, Native-Reliance, guided the intervention approach for the prevention of substance use among urban Native American youth. Results of this study provided evidence that a culturally based intervention was significantly more effective for the reduction of substance use interest and general well-being than a non-culturally based intervention for urban Native American youth. Prevention programs for urban Native American early adolescent youth that utilize Native American strengths, values, and beliefs to promote healthy behavior and reduce the harm associated with high-risk behaviors such as substance use are strongly recommended.

We begin by acknowledging the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples across the Earth as the traditional custodians of Country, and their timeless and embodied relationships with cultures, communities, ...