The Northern Mental Health Nursing Qualitative Research Forum meets three times a year to connect Mental Health Nurse researchers interested in, and conducting, qualitative research, methodologies and innovations. If you wish to be added to the mailing list, please contact james.turner@shu.ac.uk. The following session was recorded at their fifth event on Friday 3 May 2024. With thanks to Prof Karen Wright and Dr James Turner for organising the event and the invitation to support with recording the sessions. Author: Jesse Ussman Title: The Online Health Information Seeking Behaviour of People of African Descent in the UK Abstract: The current digital transformation has had a significant impact on how people seek health information, including mental health support. This is especially relevant for People of African Descent (PoAD) in the United Kingdom (UK), who face unique barriers to accessing mental health services. This presentation is based on a recent qualitative study that explored the online health information-seeking behaviour (HISB) of PoAD in the UK. The study used reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 21 PoAD aged 20 to 70 years and a mean age of 42.8 (SD ±11.4). Five overarching themes were revealed: internet literacy, attitudes towards social media, obstacles to online health information, trust in professional sources, and cultural influences on HISB. For mental health nurses, it is crucial to provide culturally sensitive mental health support that recognises the unique needs, beliefs, and online behaviours of PoAD. This presentation covers methods for overcoming obstacles to accessing mental health information online, such as addressing concerns about privacy, information overload, and mistrust in online sources. It will also highlight the potential of social media and online platforms in spreading reliable mental health information, improving digital health literacy, and promoting a community-based approach to mental health support. Mental health nurses can help bridge the gap between PoAD and mental health support by understanding and leveraging online HISB. This includes providing reliable and culturally appropriate mental health information and implementing strategies to enhance access to mental health services. The insights from this study offer a valuable framework for mental health nurses to develop inclusive, effective, and accessible mental health care services for PoAD, contributing to improved mental health outcomes and equity in healthcare provision.