Prioritized assignment to intake appointments for Asian Americans at an ethnic-specific mental health program.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship of demographic, clinical, and therapist factors to decisions about prioritized assignment to the earliest intake appointment for 983 Asian Americans who contacted an Asian-oriented, ethnic-specific mental health program. The logistic regression results showed that Asian language preference, ethnicity, suicidality, violent behavior, physical and sexual abuse, and psychotic symptoms increased the likelihood of a prioritized decision for the earliest intake appointment but that being female, being of an older age, and having somatic complaints decreased the likelihood. Given these findings, Asian American clinicians at an ethnic-specific program were found to consider clinical, demographic, and ethnically related factors in prioritized decisions about intake assignment, which could improve intake attendance.

A Review and Critique of Multicultural Competence Measures

“…Empirical research with community mental health clients (e.g., Akutsu, Tsuru, & Chu, 2004;Akutsu, Tsuru, & Chu, 2006) indicates that early contact between a client/patient is essential to fostering a meaningful dialogue and future interactions. The MAIP encourages the collection of basic prescreening/screening information (e.g., reason for contact, client/patient contact and demographic information, case history, etc.)…”

Non-Partner Sexual Violence Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Adults: A Scoping Review

“…AAs, like other racial/ethnic minority groups, were also less likely than White individuals to receive treatment for PTSD related to unwanted sex (Roberts et al, 2011). The importance of help-seeking was emphasized in one study that observed AA women who reported a history of sexual assault to have an increased likelihood of an earlier intake after initial evaluation for mental health services (Akutsu et al, 2006).…”

“…A total of seven studies addressed sexual assault disclosure and help-seeking by survivors of non-partner sexual violence (Akutsu et al, 2006; Foynes et al, 2014; Kelly-Hanku et al, 2015; Koo et al, 2015; Mills & Granoff, 1992; Roberts et al, 2011; Tummala-Narra et al, 2019). Five of the studies were conducted in the United States with data aggregated for AAs (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, Filipino, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Iu Mien, Indonesian, Indian, and Mixed Asian) but none discussed differences across AA subgroups (Akutsu et al, 2006; Foynes et al, 2014; Koo et al, 2015; Mills & Granoff, 1992; Roberts et al, 2011); the studies focused primarily on East and Southeast Asians.…”

“…A total of seven studies addressed sexual assault disclosure and help-seeking by survivors of non-partner sexual violence (Akutsu et al, 2006;Foynes et al, 2014;Kelly-Hanku et al, 2015;Koo et al, 2015;Mills & Granoff, 1992;Roberts et al, 2011;Tummala-Narra et al, 2019). Five of the studies were conducted in the United States with data aggregated for AAs (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, Filipino, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Iu Mien, Indonesian, Indian, and Mixed Asian) but none discussed differences across AA subgroups (Akutsu et al, 2006;Foynes et al, 2014;Koo et al, 2015;Mills & Granoff, 1992;Roberts et al, 2011); the studies focused primarily on East and Southeast Asians. Lack of knowledge on what is considered sexual assault, fear of reprecussions from authorities, cultural concerns about disrupting peace within family and social circles, fear of reliving the experience, and belief in the futility of reporting were observed to be barriers preventing disclosure and help-seeking (Kelly-Hanku et al, 2015;Koo et al, 2015;Mills & Granoff, 1992;Tummala-Narra et al, 2019).…”

Cultural adaptation of evidence‐based practice utilizing an iterative stakeholder process and theoretical framework: problem solving therapy for Chinese older adults

“…Despite studies showing more Chinese elderly experience depression symptoms than the general elderly population (Stokes et al ., 2001) and that depression in this group is underreported and poorly understood (Mui et al ., 2001), few Chinese elderly seek help for their mental health problems. The mental health literature has consistently reported low mental health service utilization by Asian Americans at various stages of the help‐seeking process including initial unwillingness to seek treatment, poor attendance of first appointments, and low completion of treatment (e.g., Akutsu et al , 2006; Lin, 1998; Zhang et al , 1998; U.S. DHHS, 2001). One important explanation for this low service utilization has been a lack of culturally congruent treatments (Chin, 1998; Hall, 2001; Miranda et al ., 2003).…”