Faith, Masculinity, and Mental Health: Understanding Depression Among African American Men Through a Culturally Responsive Lens

Friday, March 19, 2027, 12:00 PM–2:00 PM ET

Online via Zoom

Continuing Education Offered

• 2 hours general synchronous interactive online

Description

This webinar examines how culture, masculinity, spirituality, and community influence the ways African American men understand, express, and manage depression and emotional distress. The training explores how expectations surrounding strength, emotional endurance, self-reliance, and emotional control may support resilience while also creating barriers to disclosure and professional help-seeking.

Participants will examine the role of the Black Church as a source of spiritual support, hope, meaning, and community while considering its limitations as a mental health resource. The training also addresses stigma, fear of judgment, trust, confidentiality concerns, and other factors that may influence willingness to seek professional care. Using the Health, Illness, Men, and Masculinities (HIMM) framework, participants will develop culturally responsive strategies for engagement, communication, referral, and collaboration with community and faith-based resources.

Objectives

1. Identify at least two ways that culture, masculinity, and spirituality can influence how African American men understand and express depression.
2. Apply at least two culturally responsive strategies to address stigma, build trust, and support mental health help-seeking among African American men.

Agenda

Friday, March 19, 2027

• 12:00pm–12:30pm Welcome, Learning Objectives, and Understanding Depression Through a Cultural Lens
• 12:30pm–1:00pm Masculinity, Emotional Endurance, Faith, and the Role of the Black Church
• 1:00pm–1:30pm Stigma, Trust, Help-Seeking, and Culturally Responsive Engagement
• 1:30pm–2:00pm HIMM Framework, Case Application, Reflection, Evaluation, and Closing

Instructor

Terry Edwards, PhD, LMSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and mental health therapist with nearly two decades of experience in the behavioral health field. He earned his PhD in Clinical Social Work and Supervision from Walden University in 2026, his Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University in 2008, and his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Psychology in 2004 from The Ohio State University. He also holds an Addictions Certificate from the University of Michigan, earned in 2015.

Dr. Edwards' professional interests include culturally-responsive mental health care, anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, relationships, self-esteem, and trauma. His clinical and educational work emphasizes the intersection of culture, identity, masculinity, spirituality, and mental health. Through his training and practice, Dr. Edwards seeks to help professionals develop greater cultural awareness, strengthen therapeutic engagement, and provide responsive and equitable mental health services to diverse populations.

CE Approval Statement

The University of Michigan School of Social Work, provider #1212, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 5/15/2026–5/15/2029. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education credits.

The University of Michigan School of Social Work, a CSWE-accredited program, is authorized by Administrative Rule R 338.2923 4(b) to award Michigan social work continuing education contact hours.

Please see the CE Policies page for more information about continuing education.