Description
Suicidal behaviors among young Black sexual minority males aged 14 to 17 represent a critical but understudied public health concern. National data show that 18.4% of gay men and 22.2% of bisexual men aged 18 to 25 have experienced suicidal ideation, compared to 6.7% of heterosexual men. Young BSMM often face limited supportive resources, contributing to isolation and heightened risk. This study will employ dominance analysis to identify developmental assets most strongly associated with mental health outcomes. Variables with an R² contribution greater than 5% will be combined into an “asset mediator” to examine the pathway between discrimination and depression. By focusing on key protective assets such as family support, positive identity, and positive values, this research will clarify their relative importance and mechanisms of influence, offering insight into strategies that can mitigate suicidal behaviors in this vulnerable population.

Learning Objective:

Engage in Research-Informed Practice and Practice-Informed Research (Competency 4): Apply findings from dominance analysis to inform asset-based, culturally responsive interventions that strengthen family support, positive identity, and positive values for BSMM youth.
Presenter
Dr. Donte T. Boyd is an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University College of Social Work. He also serves as a Visiting Research Faculty member as part of the Research Education Institute for Diverse Scholars (REIDS) at Yale University School of Public Health through the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA). Dr. Boyd’s research addresses how socio-contextual factors impact young Black MSM decision-making behaviors. He is particularly interested in examining how the role of the family (e.g., parent/sibling support, communication, and socialization) and other important persons in young Black MSM lives impact HIV prevention behavior (e.g., HIV testing, PrEP Use) and other health and mental health outcomes. Donte’s research also focuses on the impact of school context among Black male adolescents in shaping their sexual health behaviors. Before joining the faculty, Dr. Boyd received his Ph.D. from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. He also has worked extensively as a social worker in different capacities in AIDs Serving Organizations (ASOs). Dr. Boyd worked as Ryan White Case Manager working with HIV-positive individuals and as a Public Health Representative before deciding to further his educational pursuits.

As well, Dr. Boyd is a Curtis Center Faculty Affiliate and co-leads the Health & Mental Health Interventions for Black Youth research initiative at the Curtis Center that supports efforts to amplify the voices of Black youth in the Midwest by exploring how mental health, healing practices, and community support influence suicide prevention and wellbeing.

Agenda
1:00 - 1:15pm | Speaker's Introduction & Context

1:15 - 1:30pm | Dominance Analysis and Protective Assets

1:30 - 1:45pm | Discrimination, Depression, and the Asset Mediator

1:45 - 2:00pm | Future Directions & Conclusion

CE Approval Statement
The University of Michigan School of Social Work, provider #1212, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The University of Michigan School of Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 5/15/2023-5/15/2026. Social workers participating in this course will receive 1 face-to-face continuing education contact hour.

Please see the CE Policies page for more information about continuing education.