Historically, the Black church has played a major role in the fight for civil rights and equality. And today, many African Americans still find solace in their local church community. According to a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center, 47% of African Americans attend church at least once a week.
“Most Black Americans pray regularly, and prayer plays a variety of roles in their lives,” the report stated.
Many churchgoers rely on their pastors not only for spiritual guidance, but for help with their mental health problems.
“When you are Black, you are inherently distrusting of the [mental health] system,” said Dawanda Davis, a licensed counselor. “On the other hand, a lot of Black people are extremely trusting of their pastor and church elders.”
Davis and her husband Edward, who is pursuing a doctorate in community care and counseling, are two South Side natives and ordained ministers who work with The Word Worship Center, a nondenominational church in South suburban Park Forest. After finding out Davis’ occupation from the church’s member directory, their pastor Claude Ambrose reached out, asking the couple to be ambassadors for the church in the area of mental health.
When other church members saw Davis listed as a licensed counselor, some began to seek her advice.
“I’ve had quite a few members approach me when they saw what I do for a living,” Davis said.
They turned to her for help, partly because of her status as a prominent member of the congregation, but also knowing that, as a licensed professional, she was obliged to keep their conversations confidential, something mandated under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act.
“Having someone they know they can trust can make a huge difference in getting people comfortable with talking about their issues,” Davis said.
The Word Worship Center’s program, known simply as the Mental Health Ministry to the congregation, began in the summer of 2019 and has served as an introduction to mental health treatment for most who participate.