Data collected from the Los Angeles site of the National Institute of
Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program were used to examine the
utilization of health services in a community population. Mexican-
Americans, especially the less acculturated, had significantly lower rates
of use of outpatient, but not inpatient, care than non-Hispanic whites.
Differences were greater for mental than physical health care. Less
acculturated Mexican-Americans made very little use of either mental health
specialists or the human services sector (e.g., religious leaders). Among
those with a recent psychiatric disorder, non-Hispanic whites were seven
times more likely to use outpatient mental health services than the less
acculturated Mexican-Americans.
Abstract Teaser