With approximately 1 in 5 adults with a mental health illness, and 16% of African Americans suffering with a diagnosable mental illness, mental health represents a public health threat (http://www.cdc.gov).  Mental health shortages regarding access to care, workforce shortages, and stigma complicate the issue which is further compounded by the paucity of information surrounding mental health status, programs, and services in north Tulsa.

In an effort to address mental health from a community-centric perspective, Be Well CDC, formerly the North Tulsa Community Coalition, conducted focus groups.  Four focus groups  were conducted to better understand community member perceptions about mental health. The purpose of the focus groups was to learn from the community about mental health, and use the data obtained from the Brain Chats to inform subsequent programming and actions.