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. 2001 May;91(5):805–807. doi: 10.2105/ajph.91.5.805

Racial/ethnic differences in attitudes toward seeking professional mental health services.

C C Diala 1, C Muntaner 1, C Walrath 1, K Nickerson 1, T LaVeist 1, P Leaf 1
PMCID: PMC1446685  PMID: 11344893

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined racial/ethnic differences in attitudes toward seeking mental health services. METHODS: Data from the National Comorbidity Survey, which administered a structured diagnostic interview to a representative sample of the US population (N = 8098), were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression was used, and data were stratified by need for mental health services. RESULTS: African Americans with depression were more likely than Whites with depression to "definitely go" (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8, P < .001) seek mental health services. African Americans with severe psychiatric disorders were less likely to be "somewhat embarrassed if friends knew they sought care" (OR = 0.3, P < .001) than were their White counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: African Americans reported more positive attitudes toward seeking mental health services than did Whites.

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Selected References

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