Unmet Needs for Mental Health Services for Latino Older Adults: Perspectives from Consumers, Family Members, Advocates, and Service Providers

• Published in: Community mental health journal Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 57 - 74
• Main Authors: Barrio, Concepción, Palinkas, Lawrence A., Yamada, Ann-Marie, Fuentes, Dahlia, Criado, Viviana, Garcia, Piedad, Jeste, Dilip V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-02-2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adults; Biological and medical sciences; California; Caregivers; Community and Environmental Psychology; Consumers; Cultural differences; Female; Focus Groups; Geriatrics; Health care access; Health services; Health Services Accessibility; Health Services Needs and Demand; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic people; Humans; Immigrants; Interviews as Topic; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental Health Services - utilization; Minority & ethnic groups; Noncitizens; Older people; Organization of mental health. Health systems; Original Paper; Population; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Social Work, Psychiatric; Stakeholders; United States; North America; America; California; United States > US; San Diego California; USA, California, San Diego; Qualitative methods; Aging; Mental health utilization; Hispanic; Mental illness; Needs assessment; Health services research; Social environment; Human; Mood disorder; Evaluation; Senescence; Aging, Mental illness, Needs assessment, Mental health utilization; Accessibility; Mental health; Hispanic, Qualitative methods, Health services research; Depression; Health service; Latinamerican; Ethnic group; Treatment; Consumer; Sociodemographic factor; Family environment; Mental disorder; Qualitative analysis; Cultural aspect; Elderly; Public health
• ISSN: 0010-3853; 1573-2789
• DOI: 10.1007/s10597-007-9112-9

This study qualitatively assessed the need for mental health services among Latino older adults in San Diego, California. The primary mental health issue was depression. Primary organizational barriers to accessing services were language and cultural barriers secondary to a lack of translators, dearth of information on available services, and scarcity of providers representative of the Latino community. Other challenges included a lack of transportation and housing, and the need for socialization and social support. Latino older adults experienced their unmet needs in ways associated with their cultural background and minority status. Age- and culturally-appropriate services are needed to overcome these barriers.