title: Mental Health Care Utilization: How Race, Ethnicity and Veteran Status are Associated with Seeking Help.
abstract: As veterans disproportionately experience higher rates of mental illness than civilians, conflicting results surround the impact of race/ethnicity on treatment utilization. This study utilized the CDC's Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, a random-digit dialed telephone survey of non-institutionalized adults. A subset of Texas respondents (n = 8563) were asked questions related to mental health treatment, stigma, help-seeking attitudes and emotional support. While no differences were found in health care utilization between non-Hispanic white veterans and non-veterans, there were distinct patterns among racial/ethnic minority veterans and non-veterans. Black and Latino non-veterans reported significantly lower health care utilization compared to non-Hispanic white non-veterans. Among veterans, there were no differences in reported utilization rates comparing non-Hispanic whites and Latinos and also non-Hispanic whites and Blacks. Our study adds to the literature by examining health care utilization among a diverse group of veterans by focusing on Veterans Administration (VA) and non-VA services to veterans.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd., Stop D3500, Austin, TX, 78712, USA. sdeluca@austin.utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research, Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive C (151C-U), Building 30, Pittsburgh, PA, 15240-1001, USA. John.blosnich@va.gov.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Blosnich
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling Psychology, College of Education, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station D5800, Austin, TX, 78712-1294, USA. elizwilson@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A W
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hentschel
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 2317 Speedway D9800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA. sally.amen@austin.utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mental health; Mental health treatment utilization; Racial/ethnic disparities; Veteran