Urban and Rural Immigrant Latino Youths’ and Adults’ Knowledge and Beliefs about Mental Health Resources

Abstract

Background-Immigrant Latino youth experience mental health problems in the U.S. Cultural beliefs and knowledge may influence help-seeking behaviors.Methods-Two hundred thirty-four immigrant Latino respondents between 12 and 44 years of age completed a questionnaire assessing knowledge of and cultural beliefs regarding mental health resources for adolescents, symptoms, and help-seeking.Results-Multivariate analyses showed that rural respondents were significantly less likely to know of mental health resources than urban-based immigrant Latinos. Knowledge and belief outcomes were also affected by age, gender, and length of time living in the community.

Mental Health Service Use Among Immigrants in the United States: A Systematic Review

“…Another common barrier was lack of knowledge about mental health services (37,56,75,77,78). In one study, fewer than 25% of all respondents indicated knowledge of mental health resources (78), and another study reported that 35% of immigrants were unaware that they had a diagnosable mental disorder (75).…”

Source of prescription drugs used nonmedically in rural and urban populations

“…For individuals who had used any prescription drug nonmedically -opioids, anxiolytics, or stimulants -we found that correlates of physician source of any prescription drug used nonmedically included characteristics such as older age, having insurance or having prescription drug dependence. These characteristics may reflect that these individuals are more likely to interface with physicians (17,40).…”

“…Prior studies examining rural racial/ethnic minorities and their use of illicit drugs suggested differences in prevalence, risk factors and patterns of use (15,41,42). Rural minority subgroups differentially access preventive healthcare services as compared to their urban counterparts (43)(44)(45). The interplay between race/ ethnicity, rurality and overdose requires more research to explore the finding that individuals who have died from prescription overdoses have predominantly been white rural residents (4,5).…”

Migration and HIV risk: life histories of Mexican-born men living with HIV in North Carolina

“…Latino migrants tend to underutilise mental health services for a variety of reasons, including stigma, lack of medical insurance, lack of knowledge, and other access issues (Garcia et al 2011; Manoleas 2008; Nadeem et al 2007). These findings highlight the need for improved attention to mental health among migrants as a risk factor for HIV, especially in a new destination such as NC where many migrants experience isolation and loneliness.…”