Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health, and Intimate Partner Homicide: Perceptions of Black Communities.

This article examines perceptions within Black communities regarding the intersection of intimate partner violence (IPV), mental health, and intimate partner homicide (IPH), highlighting unique challenges faced by Black women who experience disproportionately high rates of IPV and IPH. Based on focus groups with 128 Black or African American participants across six U.S. cities, five key themes emerged: mental health as a preferred but often inaccessible option for help; barriers to mental healthcare including cost, provider responsiveness, and lack of cultural competence; the critical need for culturally responsive care; stigma and labeling that discourage help-seeking, especially among Black men; and the complex role of faith-based responses that can both support and hinder access to care. The study underscores the importance of culturally informed, integrated approaches involving social workers to improve mental health and IPV interventions, reduce stigma, and expand non-police crisis response options within Black communities.