# Community Partnered Approach to Implement Depression Screening in Black Churches

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $821,432

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
African American adults (AAs), compared to White adults, are half as likely to be screened for depression in
primary care settings. Disparities in depression screening contribute to poor clinical outcomes, as AAs with
depression are more disabled, sicker longer, and less likely to seek treatment compared to Whites. Black
churches are trusted settings that provide “de facto” mental health services for depression. Indeed, in the first
study of its kind, the study team found that 20% of adults in Black churches screened positive for depression
using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). However, no subjects with a positive screen (PHQ-9 ≥10)
accepted a treatment referral when offered by research coordinators onsite for each screening. Community Health
Workers (CHWs), who are trusted para-professionals from the target community, may bridge the gap between depression
screening and treatment. We have trained and certified 102 CHWs from 42 Black churches in Harlem to deliver an
evidence-based intervention called Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), which is centered
on culturally tailored Motivational Interviewing (MI). Thus, the scientific premise of this study is that employing
CHWs to implement depression screening in Black churches will bridge the gap between church-based
depression-screening and engagement with clinical providers. Using a Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-
Implementation design, we propose a 2-arm, mixed-methods Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial within 30 Black
churches our CHWs currently attend. Based on our pilot data, we expect 20% of adults (n=600) to have a positive
depression screen. Adults will be randomized based on church study site to either SBIRT (n=15 churches) or Referral As
Usual (RAU, n=15 churches). We will then compare the effectiveness of SBIRT (Intervention arm) to RAU (Usual Care
arm) on treatment engagement (primary outcome), defined as attending a depression-related clinical visit for which the
subject reported receiving information, referral, counseling, or medication for depression (Aim 1). We will then compare
changes in Mental Health Related Quality of Life and depressive symptoms (secondary outcomes) at 3- and 6-months
post-screening (Aim 2). Finally, we will conduct a concurrent, mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) process
evaluation to assess contextual facilitators and barriers of screening and referral (Aim 3). This study has potential for
large-scale public health impact as 20 to 22 million Americans attend the 65,000 to 70,000 Black churches in the U.S.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10050865
- **Project number:** 1R01MH121590-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** SIDNEY H HANKERSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $821,432
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10050865

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10050865, Community Partnered Approach to Implement Depression Screening in Black Churches (1R01MH121590-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10050865. Licensed CC0.

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