Unmet Needs for Mental Health Services for Latino Older Adults: Perspectives from Consumers, Family Members, Advocates, and Service Providers

Abstract

This study qualitatively assessed the need for mental health services among Latino older adults in San Diego, California. The primary mental health issue was depression. Primary organizational barriers to accessing services were language and cultural barriers secondary to a lack of translators, dearth of information on available services, and scarcity of providers representative of the Latino community. Other challenges included a lack of transportation and housing, and the need for socialization and social support. Latino older adults experienced their unmet needs in ways associated with their cultural background and minority status. Age-and culturally-appropriate services are needed to overcome these barriers.

Barriers and Facilitators of Treatment for Depression in a Latino Community: A Focus Group Study

“…Participants also expressed specific concerns about antidepressants. These are consistent with other descriptions of barriers for depressed Latinos (Barrio et al 2008;Cabassa et al 2008;Fornos et al 2005;Interian et al 2007;Pincay and Guarnaccia 2007).…”

“…Previous researchers have used focus groups or individual interviews to investigate barriers to depression treatment amongst Latinos (Barrio et al 2008;Cabassa et al 2008;Fornos et al 2005;Interian et al 2007;Pincay and Guarnaccia 2007). Thus, one of the aims of the current study was to replicate previous findings in a sample of Latinos who were primarily of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent (as opposed to Mexican descent, as in Barrio et al 2008;Cabassa et al 2008;Fornos et al 2005), and, unlike Interian et al (2007), to focus on a range of treatment strategies. A second aim of this study was to better understand facilitators of treatment seeking amongst Latinos.…”

Examining the Relationships Between Physical Functioning, Ethnic Identity, Acculturation,Familismo, and Depressive Symptoms for Latino Older Adults

“…Finally, the underutilization of mental health services by Latino older adults is well documented (e.g., Barrio et al, 2008;Sorkin et al, 2009;U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001), and as found in the current study, there is growing support for the relationship between poor physical health and depression for Latino older adults (Black et al, 1998;Kemp et al, 1987;Liang et al, 2011;Sorkin et al, 2009).…”

Testing the Proclaimed Affordances of Online Support Groups in a Nationally Representative Sample of Adults Seeking Mental Health Assistance

“…However, unlike previous estimates, the current association focuses on differences in the use of online support and in-person support, controlling for other important predictors. The association found in this study is somewhat surprising given that concerns about illegal residency status have been cited as a reason that Hispanics fail to receive needed mental health treatment (see Barrio et al, 2008). Relative to in-person support groups, online support groups would seemingly offer a safer alternative for those concerned that seeking mental health treatment might cause problems regarding their residency.…”