Latino adolescents' and adults' knowledge of mental health resources: Findings from a community-based descriptive study

Background: Latino youth have high rates of untreated mental health problems resulting in depression, suicide attempts, and long-term consequences including school drop-out, unintended pregnancy, and maladaptive coping behaviors (substance use, deviance).

Purposes: To 1) describe Latino adolescents' and adults' knowledge of community resources for an adolescent with a mental health problem, 2) identify the types of recognized resources, and 3) examine geographic, gender, and age differences knowledge.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey utilizing a community-based approach was administered to 353 Latino respondents (95 adolescents; 258 adults) recruited from community agencies in a rural and an urban Midwestern setting. Participants completed a 100-item Emotional Health survey, including 12 items assessing knowledge of mental health resources.

Results: Only 25% of urban respondents (youth and adults) could identify a place in their community that could help with depression. Of these, most were women. Most identified resources were not mental health specialists but did include school-based health centers, Latino-focused social service agencies, churches, and clinics. Rural respondents accurately reflected their situation; namely, resources for Latino youth exhibiting mental health problems do not exist. Many rural Latinos cited church and a Latino advocacy agency in their community as resources they access. Fewer men reported knowing where to get help for mental health problems.

Conclusion: Efforts are needed to increase knowledge of available mental health resources, in the Latino community and particularly among Latino males. Rural settings experiencing rapid Latino growth need to make available culturally accessible adolescent mental health services; school-based services are critical.