Factors impacting the current trends in the use of outpatient psychiatric treatment among diverse ethnic groups

Erlanger A. Turner, Hsiu Lan Cheng, Jasmín D. Llamas, Giac-Thao Tran, Kyle X. Hill, Jennie M. Fretts, Alfonso Mercado

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    32 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Despite decades of research on the treatment of mental illness, providing services to the public remains a significant concern. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a large number of individuals suffer from psychiatric conditions, yet few receive the necessary treatment. Among ethnic minority populations, there is a larger gap in the lack of service use. Help-seeking for professional help has been linked to a variety of variables including education level, stigma towards services, ethnic background, and cultural variables. Research on improving mental health outcomes in primary care settings has been prioritized over the years. However, ethnic minorities are often underrepresented in outpatient mental health care settings. The purpose of this paper is to overview factors that contribute to and hinder ethnic minorities’ use of outpatient psychiatric treatment. The paper will review the current literature on help-seeking among African Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians, and Latino Americans; and explore implications for improving care.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)199-220
    Number of pages22
    JournalCurrent Psychiatry Reviews
    Volume12
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jun 1 2016

    Keywords

    • Ethnic minority mental health
    • Help-seeking attitudes
    • Mental health disparities
    • Psychiatric treatment
    • Treatment initiation

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Psychiatry and Mental health

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