Barriers to mental health care utilization for U.S. Cambodian refugees.

Abstract

Asian Americans encounter barriers to mental health care, some of which are structural, whereas others may be cultural. Using data from a probability sample (N = 490) drawn from the largest Cambodian refugee community in the United States, the authors assessed the extent to which structural and cultural barriers were experienced. Surprisingly, a relatively small proportion endorsed commonly cited cultural barriers such as distrust of Western care (4%) and greater confidence in alternative care (5%), whereas most endorsed structural barriers such as high cost (80%) and language (66%). Among those with a probable diagnosis, a similar pattern was found. Findings suggest that structural, not culturally based, barriers are the most critical obstacles to care in this U.S. Cambodian refugee community.

Health Perception and Health Behaviors of Elder Tibetans Living in India and Switzerland

“…Negative health behaviors were found among Russian immigrants who distrusted health information received from the media and healthcare providers (Benisovich and King 2003). Wong et al (2006) concluded that for Cambodian refugees in the United States, structural barriers such as the high cost of healthcare, poor access to healthcare, discrimination, and language problems were significant barriers to better health and health promotion. Similarly, immigrant and refugee women in Canada perceived lack of access to culturally, linguistically, and gender appropriate healthcare services as barriers to seeking healthcare (Fung and Wong 2007).…”

“…For individuals to have good health, accessible, affordable, and efficient healthcare service is critical (Fung and Wong 2007;Wong et al 2006). They experienced negligible healthcare access in pre-1959 Tibet and moderate healthcare services in India.…”

Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: general approach in primary care

“…[58][59][60][61][62][63] This can reflect both structural and cultural barriers, including the lack of mobility or ability to take time away from work, lack of linguistically accessible services, a desire to deal with problems on one's own, the concern that problems will not be understood by practitioners because of cultural or linguistic differences, and fear of stigmatization. [64][65][66][67][68] In many developing countries, mental health services are associated only with custodial or hospital treatment of the most severely ill and psychotic patients. Partly as a consequence, and also because of specific cultural explanations of illness, mental disorders are highly stigmatized in most countries, and patients are extremely reluctant to attribute symptoms to a mental disorder.…”

Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Asian American Community College Students: The Effect of Stigma, Cultural Barriers, and Acculturation

“…Zhang & Dixon, 2003). Asian Americans' reluctance to seek professional help and their lack of acceptance of Western psychotherapy, based on their level of acculturation, is known as a contributor to barriers in seeking mental health services (Wong et al, 2006).…”