Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, PO Box 750336, Dallas, TX, 75275-0336, USA.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Community Ment Health J. 2019 Apr;55(3):440-447. doi: 10.1007/s10597-019-00376-x. Epub 2019 Mar 1.
While there are high rates of food insecurity among individuals with serious mental illnesses, and among African Americans, there is very little research on the ways African Americans in public-sector mental health services cope with food insecurity. This research paper presents qualitative data from a mixed methods study on the prevalence and management of food insecurity among African Americans using public sector mental health services. We interviewed 21 people about their everyday experiences of food insecurity and strategies they used to cope. While participants reported experiencing high levels of food insecurity, they also described the use of communal strategies to help them cope, including sharing food and cooking meals jointly, which seemed to reduce the negative effects of living with high levels of food insecurity as well as a serious mental illness. Policy innovations like communal gardens and kitchens provided through public mental health services may be particularly helpful.
虽然患有严重精神疾病的个体和非裔美国人中存在较高的粮食不安全率，但针对非裔美国人在公共部门精神卫生服务中应对粮食不安全问题的方式，几乎没有研究。本研究论文介绍了一项混合方法研究的定性数据，该研究调查了使用公共部门精神卫生服务的非裔美国人的粮食不安全问题的流行情况和管理情况。我们采访了 21 人，了解他们在粮食不安全方面的日常经历和应对策略。虽然参与者报告称经历了高度的粮食不安全，但他们也描述了使用社区策略来帮助他们应对，包括分享食物和共同做饭，这似乎减轻了患有严重精神疾病和高度粮食不安全的双重困境的负面影响。通过公共精神卫生服务提供的社区花园和厨房等政策创新可能特别有帮助。
