Andrae Banks

Andrae Banks is an assistant professor of Social Work at North Carolina Central University and a licensed clinical social worker in the state of North Carolina. His research focuses on the experiences of Black Americans, especially adolescents; with mental health, mental health services utilization, and social mobility. His research is informed, in part, by his clinical practice experiences, including work performed at the Durham County Department of Public Health and the Durham Police Department. He is interested in examining cultural and ethnic perspectives on mental health, reducing mental health stigma, increasing mental health services utilization, and developing alternative approaches to improving mental health.

He has studied the impact of father incarceration on adolescent mental illness; Black males, trauma, and mental health service use; and how to treat mental illness among Black male adolescents diagnosed with diabetes. His teaching experience includes Foundations of Data Analysis, Research Methods, and Masters Research Project. He also has experience teaching human behavior in the social environment, evaluation of programs and services, and health behavior and health promotion. He recently completed a grant-funded study on Black adolescents and the influence of COVID-19 on their mental health and mental health services utilization.