Why Do People of Asian Descent Not Utilize Mental Health Treatments Compared to Other Ethnic Groups in the United States?

Abstract

Racial and ethnic minorities like Asians in the United States are significantly less likely to receive mental health treatment than Caucasians. Using 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, we examined the underutilization of mental health treatment in the US and find that being over 65 or 35–44, being unmarried, and being insured were positively associated with mental health treatment utilization, and as mentally unhealthy days increased, the utilization of treatment also increased. The paper offers a discussion on why there is this underutilization of mental health services amongst Asians and what steps can be taken to improve utilization.

Keywords:

• Asians
• mental health
• utilization

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.