Mental health services of a Latino population: A community-based participatory research project

Community-based participatory research bridges the gap between academic research and real-life community issues and offers promise in addressing racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care. Public health researchers support this methodology because it promotes participation in minority communities. A collaborative effort between academic researchers and community members knowledgeable about Latino mental health care issues enables factors impacting access, use, and perception of mental health services to be identified on the individual, organizational, and community levels of the Social Ecological Model. Immigration status and acculturation factors were identified at all levels. Individual level factors were numerous and included health beliefs regarding causes of mental illness, somatic expressions of mental health symptoms, suspicions of providers, financial concerns, and culturally determined gender roles. Personal histories and traumatic experiences during border crossing also exacerbated and caused isolation and fear, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders. Organizational level factors identified include cost of care, lack of bilingual providers and culturally competent care. Community level factors included lack of resources and transportation and the need for services to be provided in the community. Adolescents were identified as the most vulnerable population due to pressures of acculturation and assimilation, which result in acting out behaviors. Due to men's unwillingness to talk about mental health issues, education through women was identified as the best way to serve the entire family in the least invasive way. Findings from this study will lead to further collaborative study designing multilevel interventions through participation within this Latino community.