Factors That Result In The Underutilization Of Mental Health Services

Research has demonstrated that ethnic and racial minorities and those of low socioeconomic status underutilize professional mental health services (Bullock & Lott, 2002; Neighbors, 1984; Shore, 1992; Snowden & Cheung, 1990). Despite this underutilization of services, ethnic/racial minorities and those of low socioeconomic status experience mental illness prevalence rates at least as high as the general population (Sue, Zane, & Young, 1994; Vega & Rumbaut, 1991). To date, the literature regarding mental health service utilization has focused upon demographics and other variables that may predict mental health service utilization (Sue & Sue, ...