Psychological Distress as a Mediator of the Association Between Racism-based Police Violence and Mental Health Help-Seeking Among Black and Hispanic Emerging Adults.

BACKGROUND

Racism-based police violence (RPV) exposure may influence psychological distress and mental health help-seeking, yet limited research has examined these relationships among Black and Hispanic emerging adults. This study evaluated whether psychological distress mediates associations between RPV exposure (direct, witnessed, and media-based) and mental health help-seeking.

METHODS

Analyses were based on cross-sectional survey data collected between August and October 2023 using a national Qualtrics nonprobability panel (n = 878). Measures included lifetime RPV exposure, everyday discrimination, psychological distress, and three indicators of help-seeking (perceived need, professional service use, and non-professional support). Bootstrapped mediation analyses estimated indirect associations.

RESULTS

Greater RPV-Media exposure was associated with higher distress, which was associated with lower perceived need for services and reduced use of a professional mental health provider, as well as greater reliance on non-professional support. All RPV exposure domains demonstrated significant indirect associations with help-seeking through distress.

CONCLUSION

RPV exposure, particularly media-based exposure, is associated with help-seeking through psychological distress. These findings highlight psychological distress as a key pathway linking RPV exposure and help-seeking, underscoring the importance of culturally responsive approaches to improving engagement with mental health services.