Interventions to Improve the Mental Health of Black Youth in Western Countries: A Scoping Review.

backgroundBlack youth in Western countries experience disproportionate mental health challenges driven by systemic racism, cultural stigma, and limited access to culturally appropriate care. While the need for tailored interventions is increasingly recognized, there remains a lack of synthesized evidence on evaluated mental health programs, those systematically assessed for effectiveness, targeting this population. This scoping review aimed to identify, map, and synthesize peer-reviewed studies evaluating mental health interventions designed to improve psychological outcomes among Black youth aged 15-24 years living outside of Africa.

methodsUsing Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage scoping review framework, we conducted a comprehensive search across eight electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, HealthStar, and Socio Index. The search covered studies published after the year 2000. Eligible studies included primary research conducted in Western countries that evaluated a mental health intervention for Black youth and reported psychological outcomes. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened using predefined criteria. Data were extracted using a standardized charting form and synthesized thematically by the mental health issue addressed.

resultsNine studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions focused on five key areas: violence prevention, depression, substance use, stress and anxiety, and suicidality. Most programs were culturally adapted and demonstrated positive outcomes, though limitations included small sample sizes, limited methodological diversity, and a lack of long-term follow-up.

conclusionCulturally grounded interventions show promise in improving mental health outcomes for Black youth. Future research should focus on intersectionality, long-term impact, and broader representation across diverse Black subpopulations.