title: What leads non-U.S.-Born Latinos to access mental health care?
abstract: Latinos underutilize mental health care services. Of those who do, about 70% do not return after the initial visit. This study's purposes were: (1) to identify factors that led non-U.S.-born Latinos to utilize services from a nonprofit clinic in Texas and (2) to assess whether acculturation played a role in accessing mental health care. Data were collected over a 10-week period using an interview schedule and the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Latinos. Results indicate acculturation does not play a significant role in access, but patient knowledge of mental health care issues does. Specifically, the main barriers to access were: (1) lack of knowledge that there was a mental health issue; and (2) lack of knowledge of where to go for mental health services.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76016, USA. Erika.Ruiz@mavs.uta.edu
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Regina T P
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.forename: Diane B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Mitschke
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D002489:Central America / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas