A community-academic partnership develops a more responsive model to providing depression care to disadvantaged adults in the US.

Background: Socioeconomically disadvantaged adults experience greater healthcare disparities and increased risk of depression compared to higher-income groups.

Aim: To create a depression care model for disadvantaged adults utilizing service agencies, through a community-academic partnership.

Methods: Using participatory research methods, an organizational needs assessment was performed to ascertain depression care needs, identify barriers to clients receiving treatment, and marshal resources.

Barriers to treatment and culturally endorsed coping strategies among depressed African-American older adults.

Objective: Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of depression, however, they are less likely to seek and engage in mental health treatment. African-American older adults are even less likely than their White counterparts to seek and engage in mental health treatment. This qualitative study examined the experience of being depressed among African-American elders and their perceptions of barriers confronted when contemplating seeking mental health services.

Developing a community-academic partnership to improve recognition and treatment of depression in underserved African American and white elders.

Objective: Reducing mental health disparities among underserved populations, particularly African American elders, is an important public health priority. The authors describe the process and challenges of developing a community/academic research partnership to address these disparities.

Methods: The authors are using a Community-Based Participatory Research approach to gain access to underserved populations in need of depression treatment.