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<br />Hispanic/Latino Mental Health Services Needs Assessment <br /> <br />The Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas, Inc. (MHA) has identified a void <br />regarding knowledge of mental health services needs within the Hispanic/Latino <br />community ("community") in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties. By conducting a <br />study that uses survey and focus group responses from a diverse sample of community <br />members, the MHA has made a vital contribution to closing this information gap. The <br />study, which is summarized in this report, reveals how community members understand <br />and respond to mental health problems. The MHA plans to develop an agenda of <br />information, education, and advocacy addressing the issues identified by this study. <br /> <br />Research Question: <br /> <br />"What are the unmet mental health services needs of the Hispanic/Latino community in <br />Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties?" <br /> <br />Executive Summary: <br /> <br />Six major areas of concern emerge as key factors impacting mental health services <br />needs of the community. Information on community mental health issues obtained from <br />the study's Advisory Committee and an independent research literature review are used <br />to identify these areas. This summary and the balance of the report focus on the six <br />areas. <br /> <br />1. How community members understand mental health problems. <br />Community members tend to have dissimilar beliefs regarding mental health and the <br />causes of mental illness than those commonly held by mental health providers and the <br />general U.S. population. This is an important issue because these beliefs can <br />powerfully influence the actions community members take in seeking help for their <br />mental health problems. <br /> <br />According to survey results, the majority of respondents (60%) believe emotional and <br />mental problems are caused by something other than mental illness. In addition, focus <br />group responses emphasize "evil spirits" and "natural" causes over mental illness. A <br />consensus exists among participants that mental health problems are common in the <br />community, especially depression. <br /> <br />These findings indicate a strong need for culturally appropriate education and <br />information efforts for community members about mental health concepts and <br />therapies. The results also establish a need for efforts to encourage mental <br />health service providers to develop culturally appropriate services. <br /> <br />2. How community members experience emotional or mental problems found <br />uniquely in Hispanic/Latino cultures. <br />Several conditions experienced by community members are unique to the community, <br />and can result in serious emotional problems. Even though these conditions "overlap" <br />diagnostic criteria found in the DSM-IV Manual, community members may find it <br />especially difficult to communicate with providers in the U.S. because of the differences <br />in terminology and beliefs. (See research results for a more complete description of <br />these conditions.) <br /> <br />Cr-3 <br />