Abstract
Coping strategies are both social and individual behaviors that relieve stress and other negative emotions. They are considered alternative to formal coping strategies because they are not used with traditional mental health services. Evidence shows that overall, Black Americans use formal mental health therapy and medicine the least compared to other races and ethnicities, especially whites. What lacks in the literature is an understanding of willingness to utilize traditional mental health services, as well as alternative coping strategies, both across different races/ethnicities and across different demographics of Black Americans. Using a 2022 survey of Houston, Texas residents, I explore racial and ethnic differences in both formal and personal coping mechanisms, such as exercise, social networks, and religion through binary logistic regressions. The main finding of this study is that the largest differences in willingness to use coping strategies varies more across racial groups rather than within the Black community. Also, more than other racial groups, Black people are more likely to utilize religious services as a mental health strategy. This paper provides recommendations for future research and policy concerning willingness to use mental health services and coping strategies both across racial groups and within the Black community.