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<br />Survey results show that 46% of respondents have family members who suffer from <br />"Angustia," 30% have "Susto," 27% experience "Ataque de Nervios," and 13% report <br />cases of "Mal de Ojo." Only 34% of family members reported seeking help for these <br />conditions in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus Counties. For those who do seek help, only 23% <br />seek help from mental health professionals. The majority (77%) go to family physicians, <br />priest/ministers, folk healers, or other sources of assistance. <br /> <br />The existence of unique conditions among community members and the <br />possible overlap with existing diagnostic categories used by mental health <br />providers strongly suggest the need for information and education among <br />members of both groups regarding these problems. Physicians and faith <br />community practitioners also need to be informed about these conditions. <br /> <br />3. Where family members seek help for emotional and mental problems in <br />Mecklenburg/Cabarrus Counties. <br />Half (51 %) of the community members responding to the survey report a family member <br />who suffers from an emotional or mental problem, and 50% indicate they seek help for <br />the problem in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus Counties. Only 29% seek help from mental <br />health professionals. The majority goes to family physicians (35%) or priest/ministers <br />(27%). The remaining 2% go to faith healers and 7% to other sources of help. <br /> <br />Focus group participants emphasize the lack of understanding/knowledge currently <br />existing among community members about mental health services and how providers <br />work. They also stress that pastors or priests are the first source contacted, and that <br />prayer is seen as more effective than professional help. There is a strong preference <br />among participants for community-based services. <br /> <br />Information and education for family physicians and faith community <br />practitioners regarding mental health issues in the community may be helpful <br />in counseling and referring community members, and a need exists for <br />culturally appropriate education and information efforts for both community <br />members and mental health service providers. <br /> <br />4. Community members encounter barriers in accessing mental health services <br />in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus Counties. <br />Although a survey question asks about the respondent's satisfaction with the services they <br />received, barriers to accessing services are not identified in the survey. Focus group <br />responses, however, do address this issue. <br /> <br />Focus group participants identify the following barriers to accessing mental health <br />services: high financial cost, mistrust of psychologists and other mental heath <br />professionals, concerns about confidentiality, fear of the Immigration and Naturalization <br />Service (now the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), and language difficulties. <br />There is also consensus among participants that discrimination against community <br />members is a serious barrier they encounter. <br /> <br />While it may be difficult to overcome many of these barriers to mental <br />health services, supporting existing community-based programs in <br />communicating with the community and encouraging the <br />creation/expansion of additional community-based mental health services <br />will help address these concerns. <br />G--~ <br />