Latino Adults’ Access to Mental Health Care: A Review of Epidemiological Studies

Abstract

Since the early 1980s, epidemiological studies using state-of-the-art methodologies have documented the unmet mental health needs of Latinos adults in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. This paper reviews 16 articles based on seven epidemiological studies, examines studies methodologies, and summarizes findings about how Latino adults access mental health services. Studies consistently report that, compared to non-Latino Whites, Latinos underutilize mental health services, are less likely to receive guideline congruent care, and rely more often on primary care for services. Structural, economic, psychiatric, and cultural factors influence Latinos' service access. In spite of the valuable information these studies provide, methodological limitations (e.g., reliance on cross-sectional designs, scarcity of mixed Latino group samples) constrict knowledge about Latinos access to mental health services. Areas for future research and development needed to improve Latinos' access and quality of mental health care are discussed.

White Counseling Supervisees’ Experiences Working with Latino Youth: A Phenomenological Study

“…In the field of counseling, this is particularly problematic, creating a need for improved training of White counselors in work across race and ethnicity. Such a need is illustrated through studies showing that persons of non-dominant cultures disproportionately terminate counselor care before treatment completion (Cabassa, Zayas, & Hansen, 2006;Wintersteen, Mensinger, & Diamond, 2005), citing culturally biased services from White counselors as a significant reason for dissatisfaction with counseling services (Chang & Berk, 2009). . .…”

“…. persons of non-dominant cultures disproportionately terminate counselor care before treatment completion (Cabassa, Zayas, & Hansen, 2006;Wintersteen, Mensinger, & Diamond, 2005), citing culturally biased services from White counselors as a significant reason for dissatisfaction . .…”

Prevalence of Mental Health Issues in the Borderlands: A Comparative Perspective

“…The literature shows that poverty, immigration status, birthplace, barriers to care (linguistic and structural), discrimination, access to services, lack of services, lack of insurance, workrelated stress, stigma, acculturation, rural/urban residency, length of residency, and weakened social support are important risk factors in Hispanic mental health (see, e.g., Cabassa, Zayas, & Hansen, 2006;Escobar et al, 2000;Kim-Godwin & Bechtel, 2004;Lara, Gamboa, Kahramanian, Morales, & Bautista, 2005;Roberts, 1980;Rohrer, Borders, & Blanton, 2005;Vega, Kolody, AguilarGaxiola, & Catalano, 1999;Vega, Kolody, Hough, & Figueroa, 1987;Vega & Lopez, 2001;World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Consortium, 2004). Of these mental health risk factors among Hispanics reported in the literature, birthplace, acculturation, and length of residency are within the scope of our survey and are examined more closely here.…”

Diagnostic, Symptom, and Functional Assessments of Hispanic Outpatients in Community Mental Health Practice

“…There are also variations in their conceptions of mental illness, its assessment and treatments based on a diverse set of cultural beliefs and traditions (Cabassa et al 2007). Communication problems will curtail access to care and prolong the under-utilization and premature termination of services (Alegria and McGuire 2003;Cabassa et al 2006;Vega and Alegria 2001;Vega and Lopez 2001). To assure accuracy and consistency and to improve service delivery, our diagnostic strategies need examination.…”