FACTS AND FIGURES
Learn about statistics, trends, and other relevant insights for behavioral health practitioners working to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for people in underserved communities.
Mental Health Service Use and Dropout Rates
Mental illnesses often go untreated, especially for people in racial/ethnic minority groups. Among U.S. adults with mental disorders,
racial/ethnic minorities are less likely to get treatment, more likely to drop out before completing their treatment, and experience
more severe cases of mental disorders as compared to Whites. An NIMHD-supported study examined differences in treatment among Asians,
Blacks, Latinos, and Whites using data from three nationally representative surveys. Data showed that Latinos and Asians were more likely
to report 1) not receiving treatment for mental disorders lasting 12 months, 2) feeling they did not need treatment, and 3) dropping out
of their mental health treatments than White and Blacks. The most common reason cited for dropout was that they did not believe they needed
an intervention. The most common reason cited among Whites and Blacks for not seeking treatment was wanting to handle the problem themselves.
This study highlights various factors that future efforts may address to improve mental health outcomes for racial/ethnic minorities. Having
culturally sensitive discussions about mental health in communities and with providers may encourage more people to use these targeted
health services and reduce barriers to receiving treatment.
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Mental Health Services Use and Dropout Rates
Citation: Green JG, McLaughlin KA, Fillbrunn M, Fukuda M, Jackson JS, Kessler RC, Sadikova E, Sampson NA, Vilsaint C, Williams DR, Cruz-Gonzalez M, Alegría M. Barriers to Mental Health Service Use and Predictors of Treatment Drop Out: Racial/Ethnic Variation in a Population-Based Study. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2020 Jul;47(4):606-616.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32076886.