Older Mexican Americans: Pathways to Mental Health Service Use

Abstract

Cultural and structural barriers have resulted in lower mental health service use by Latinos. In the interest of greater access to mental health care for older Mexican Americans, this qualitative study explored the factors that led 20 older Mexican Americans to access mental health services. Factors included family and helping professionals. The overarching themes were culturally responsive agencies and sustained relationships as pathways to service utilization characterized as professional, as well as close and family-like interactions. Family members and health care providers facilitated utilization. Expanding the workforce of bilingual/bicultural providers and community education about the importance of relationships in mental health care are needed.

KEYWORDS:

• minority aging
• Mexican American
• service use
• mental health
• qualitative research