Quitting Mental Health Services among Racial and Ethnic Groups of Americans with Depression

Abstract

Research on racial/ethnic differences in quitting mental health services has yet to examine the multiple forms of services offered and reasons why racial/ethnic groups quit. Data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES) examined whether race/ethnicity was related to quitting nine types of mental health services within a multivariate framework, and whether any racial/ethnic differences emerged among 16 assessed reasons for quitting mental health services (N = 437). Odds of quitting mental health services provided by social workers, non-medical health professionals, counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists varied significantly by race/ethnicity. The most common reasons for quitting services included individuals wanting to handle the problem on their own, getting better, or not needing help anymore. The increased likelihood of quitting services represents an underexplored area for mental health service disparities and calls for improved efforts to retain racial and ethnic minorities in the mental health system.

<p>Racial and ethnic differences in depression: current perspectives</p>

“…For those within the community who do seek help, studies raise concern over self-concealment – withholding sensitive information that may foster feelings of shame in the individual, adding another barrier to successful treatment of depression. Other studies have attempted to ascertain common reasons for quitting services providing treatment for mental health issues, the most common reason being individuals wanting to handle the problem themselves 22. Non-Caucasian individuals at a younger age and lower income level, comorbid conditions, and lower educational attainment are at highest risk of quitting mental health services 22.…”

“…Other studies have attempted to ascertain common reasons for quitting services providing treatment for mental health issues, the most common reason being individuals wanting to handle the problem themselves 22. Non-Caucasian individuals at a younger age and lower income level, comorbid conditions, and lower educational attainment are at highest risk of quitting mental health services 22. African Americans and Hispanic patients are more likely to quit receiving treatment for mental health disorders at high rates than other races/ethnicities 22.…”

“…Non-Caucasian individuals at a younger age and lower income level, comorbid conditions, and lower educational attainment are at highest risk of quitting mental health services 22. African Americans and Hispanic patients are more likely to quit receiving treatment for mental health disorders at high rates than other races/ethnicities 22. The reasons for this are manifold and include a general sense of mistrust of service providers by patients, racial incongruity between providers and patients, past mistreatment of patients, and the aforementioned cultural perceptions and social stigmas surrounding mental health and treatment 22…”

Psychic suffering and depression in black children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Results highlight the need of interventions directed to black and Hispanic adolescents with depression that are simultaneously treating anxiety and behavioral problems. Hussen et al ( 8 ) To analyze social capital, depressive symptoms, and viral suppression of HIV among black, gay, bisexual, and other kinds of adolescents that have sexual intercourse with men living with HIV Cross-sectional Socioeconomic factors are a risk for the development of mental comorbidities Kilpatrick and Taylor ( 9 ) To assess the importance of perceived prejudice in a multiethnic sample of study participants with and without physical disability Cross-sectional Results show race as a source of prejudice and health risk Mowbray et al ( 10 ) To analyze race as a depression determinant Cross-sectional Race is a risk factor for depression Assari et al ( 11 ) To investigate the association between family income and risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) in black young individuals, based on ethnicity, gender Cross-sectional Results suggest that ethnicity and gender influence how socioeconomic resources, like income, are associated with risk of MDD Bromberger et al ( 12 ) To analyze childhood socioeconomic circumstances and depressive load of symptoms throughout 15 years of follow-up in midlife Cohort Socioeconomic factors can be mental health determiners Youssef et al ( 13 ) To examine: 1) if there is a dose-response relation between trauma and depressive symptoms; 2) if the initial trauma affected European Americans (AE) and African Americans (AA) in a similar way; and 3) if resilience reduces the trauma effect Cross-sectional Even though the adverse experiences have been significantly associated with the depression severity of the dose-response form, a higher resilience mitigated the impact of childhood adversities in depressive symptoms in young adults …”

“…Racism was reported by Kilpatrick and Taylor 9 as an important risk factor for poor health. However, for Mowbray et al 10 , race is independently associated with other sociodemographic variables, because black people with a stable economic condition tend to have an increased risk of developing depression.…”