Mental Health and The Hispanic Catholic Community Jami Jorgensen with Dr. Sarah Strauss and Danielle Jensen- Ryan Mentors Anthropology Department Statement of the Statement of the Problem Problem This study examined how the This study examined how the Hispanic Catholic community Hispanic Catholic community in Laramie Wyoming in Laramie Wyoming approaches mental health approaches mental health issues. Survey methods and issues. Survey methods and personal interviews were personal interviews were used to identify the used to identify the perceptions of this perceptions of this community in terms of how community in terms of how they perceive mental they perceive mental illness, the mental health illness, the mental health industry, and their access industry, and their access to mental health resources. to mental health resources. Specifically, this study Specifically, this study examined factors examined factors contributing to contributing to discrepancies between needs discrepancies between needs and services offered to the and services offered to the Hispanic Catholic community Hispanic Catholic community for mental health issues, for mental health issues, as well as cultural factors as well as cultural factors that shape Hispanic that shape Hispanic attitudes toward mental attitudes toward mental health. health. Hypothesis Hypothesis This study hypothesized This study hypothesized that proficiency in English that proficiency in English and self-identification and self-identification within the Hispanic within the Hispanic subcultures are correlated subcultures are correlated with perceptions of access with perceptions of access to mental health services to mental health services and the perceived efficacy and the perceived efficacy of these services. We also of these services. We also expect that participants expect that participants prefer cultural mechanisms prefer cultural mechanisms to clinical services. to clinical services. Culture provides the framework through which human beings Culture provides the framework through which human beings interact with and perceive the world around them. As such culture interact with and perceive the world around them. As such culture gives individuals a general guideline for living and interpreting gives individuals a general guideline for living and interpreting reality. Furthermore, religious and family influences, as reality. Furthermore, religious and family influences, as constructs of culture, mediate the mental health perceptions and constructs of culture, mediate the mental health perceptions and approaches from an individual’s standpoint. approaches from an individual’s standpoint. Researchers have only a limited understanding of the workings of Researchers have only a limited understanding of the workings of variables like ethnic identity and parental ethnic affiliation. variables like ethnic identity and parental ethnic affiliation. Despite the obvious connection between culture and mental health, Despite the obvious connection between culture and mental health, practitioners ignore culture, and in many cases minorities go practitioners ignore culture, and in many cases minorities go without access to mental health services. without access to mental health services. Introduction Introduction Importance of the Study This information could be This information could be used to develop mental used to develop mental health services that meet health services that meet Hispanic needs and to Hispanic needs and to elaborate methods for elaborate methods for identifying barriers to identifying barriers to access of mental health access of mental health services for other services for other populations. populations. Methods Quantitative Approach Qualitative Approach • Bilingual Parallel Survey Bilingual Parallel Survey • Correlations Correlations • Language Language • Location and Transportation Location and Transportation • Self-Identification Self-Identification • Cultural vs. Clinical Cultural vs. Clinical • Semi-Structured Interviews Semi-Structured Interviews • Observation Observation • Themes Themes • Direct Perspectives Direct Perspectives Analysis • Cultural Preference Cultural Preference • Need for More Data Need for More Data • Need to Build Rapport Need to Build Rapport • Reluctance Reluctance • Stigma Stigma • Distrust Distrust Quantitative Approach Qualitative Approach · Dr. Sarah Strauss · Susan Stoddard · · Zackie Salmon · McNair Program · · Danielle Jensen-Ryan · Dee Garcia · · St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church · MEChA · Acknowledgements According to SAMHSA, in the According to SAMHSA, in the National Survey on Drug Use National Survey on Drug Use and Health, ten reasons are and Health, ten reasons are listed for not receiving listed for not receiving mental health services. These mental health services. These include cost, perceived need, include cost, perceived need, not knowing where to go, time not knowing where to go, time constraints, fear of constraints, fear of repercussion, confidentiality repercussion, confidentiality concerns, insurance non- concerns, insurance non- coverage, stigma, and coverage, stigma, and perceived efficacy. None of perceived efficacy. None of these address cultural these address cultural concerns. concerns. What’s Missing? Who’s Missing? According to the 2000 U. S. According to the 2000 U. S. Census, Hispanic populations Census, Hispanic populations account for 12% of the U. S. account for 12% of the U. S. population, which equates to population, which equates to over 32 million people. At over 32 million people. At that time, Hispanics were the that time, Hispanics were the fastest growing minority group fastest growing minority group in the United States. in the United States.