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Barriers to mental health care for hispanic americans: A literature review and discussion

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Abstract

The Hispanic American population, the second largest and fastest growing minority population in the United States, faces barriers to access to both medical health and mental health care. This paper examines both financial and cultural barriers to utilization of mental health care services; it is a broad review of the literature and is not intended to be comprehensively detailed. The research review suggests that the financial barrier is a major determinant of mental health service access for Hispanic American populations. Also, nonfinancial barriers such as acculturation are examined. A two-part plant is suggested to reduce both financial and nonfinancial barriers. Very little literature on utilization of substance abuse services was found; suggestions for further research are thus proposed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Financing and Services Research Branch, Division of Applied Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Room 9A-42, 5600 Fishers Lane, 20857, Rockville, MD

    Albert M. Woodward Ph.D., M.B.A., Alexander D. Dwinell & Bernard S. Arons M.D.

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  1. Albert M. Woodward Ph.D., M.B.A.
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  2. Alexander D. Dwinell
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  3. Bernard S. Arons M.D.
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Bernard S. Arons, M.D., is with the Division of Applied and Services Research, National Institute of Mental Health.

Views contained in this paper may not necesarily reflect the official policy or position of the National Institutes on Drug Abuse and of Mental Health or any other part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Woodward, A.M., Dwinell, A.D. & Arons, B.S. Barriers to mental health care for hispanic americans: A literature review and discussion. The Journal of Mental Health Administration 19, 224–236 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02518988

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