Regular Research ArticlesMental Health Service Use Among Older African Americans: The National Survey of American Life
Section snippets
Sample
The NSAL is a national multistage probability sample in the continental United States. Data were collected by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research Survey Research Center on behalf of the Program for Research on Black Americans. Data were collected from February 2001 to June 2003 using face-to-face computer-assisted interviews. Interviewers participated in a 10-day training program and were closely supervised throughout the data-collection period. Initial interviews and
RESULTS
Overall, 7.3% (N = 54) of older African Americans obtained services in response to problems with their emotions, mental health, or use of alcohol or drugs. The demographic correlates of 12-month service use are presented in Table 1. Those aged 55–64 years reported using more general medical care and mental health services compared with nonhealth care options. Use of any services, mental health services, and general medical care was lower among those 65 years or older. Age showed no significant
DISCUSSION
Among older African Americans more than half of respondents with a mental disorder did not use services, suggesting a substantial amount of unmet need among this population, although we do not know if everyone who meets criteria for a disorder has a need for treatment. In addition, 3% of those without a disorder reported using services. These may be individuals with subsyndromal disorders, individuals who are in recovery, or those with other issues for which they are seeking treatment, such as
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Centering Culture in Mental Health: Differences in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Access to Care Among Older People of Color
2022, American Journal of Geriatric PsychiatryCitation Excerpt :As a result, older individuals tend to have a lower prevalence of psychiatric disorders because this is a healthier population. Disparities in mental health treatment and service utilization have been consistently observed for Blacks.6,52–54 Specifically, data indicate mismatches in rates of treatment and service use with respect to the burden of symptoms and severity among Blacks.
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2015, American Journal of Geriatric PsychiatryBridging the gap between common mental disorders and service use: The role of self-rated mental health among African Americans
2015, American Journal of Geriatric PsychiatryCitation Excerpt :In the subgroup with excellent/very good SRMH, the corresponding odds ratio was 1.44 (Wald χ2 [df = 1] = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.58–3.57, p = 0.42). Responding to the historical mental health care disparities in African Americans,1,3–7 the present study conceptualized self-rated mental health as a potential factor that may help explain the gap between mental disorder and service use. An individual's subjective appraisal of mental health status is considered to be a critical part of help-seeking decision-making that determines the path regarding whether the presence of mental disorder is linked to the use of services.11–13
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This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; U01-MH57716) with supplemental support from the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Michigan, the National Institute on Aging to Taylor (R01-AG18782), and Drs. Jackson and Taylor (P30-AG15281). Dr. Neighbors is also supported by a Health Policy Scholars Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.