Learning Objective #1: Describe the characteristics of depression and the circumstances that bring about depression in Black women

Learning Objective #2: Describe how African Canadian women define and deal with depression

---

Racialized minority groups in North America tend to be less healthy and often experience greater barriers to accessing appropriate health care compared with mainstream population. However, little is known about African Canadian women's health. Effort is currently being made to advance this state of health knowledge about African Canadians. This paper will discuss findings of a study that examined midlife health of African Canadian women. The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences of health and well being among midlife African Nova Scotia women, with particular attention to how they are affected by menopause and a dominant ideological construct of ‘the strong Black woman. Triangulation of both qualitative and quantitative research methods was used on a sample size of 50 women between the age of 40 and 65 years. Data collection methods include individual interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and community workshops. Atlas ti computer software was used to facilitate thematic data analysis. The paper will discuss midlife depression, which is a major finding of the study. Although depression is not a topic widely discussed among Black women, most of the women in this study had some experience of depression. They indicated that depression occurs under “zillions” of circumstances. They characterized the periods of midlife depression as short-term and sporadic feeling of “something's wrong”. It is often an extension of a complicated set of “circumstances” identified by some as part of a “chain reaction”. This paper will discuss the various aspects of depression described by these women including the stigma of depression as a mental illness. It will conclude with the impact of the “myth of the strong Black woman” on how Black women define and deal with depression. Implications of the study for nursing will also be presented.