Mental Health Needs of an Emerging Latino Community

This study explored the nature and frequency of healthcare utilization for mental health problems among uninsured/uninsurable Latinos who received outpatient care between 2012 and 2015 through an academic hospital-affili ated program that covers primary and specialty services to uninsured patients without regard to documentation status. Encounters for mental health disorders were the most common category, accounting for 14.88% of all visits. Mood (78%) and anxiety disorders (16%) were the most prevalent mental healt h diagnoses. The most frequent reason to seek care was symptom, signs, and ill-defined conditions (37.47%), and within this subgroup, pain was the leading cause of seeking care (88%), which may indicate high rates of somatization of mental health distress. This study presents a unique opportunity to explore the burden and nature of mental health needs among a population for which healthcare information is rarely attainable and highlights the need for culturally competent screening mechanisms and interventions to address the stressors faced by emergent communities.

Source: The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research - January 29, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research