Latino disparities in child mental health services.

TOPIC

Access and utilization of mental health services for Latino children.

PURPOSE

As Latino children may experience higher rates of unmet needs, this article examines the current literature for the reasons for the disparity and the barriers to the utilization of mental health services for Latino children.

SOURCES

An integrative literature review was undertaken from child psychiatry and nursing.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature confirmed a pattern of underutilization of mental health services by Latino children, but did not completely address the reasons for the disparity. Suggested barriers were language and cultural issues. Gaps in the literature include a lack of agreement for definition of a mental health problem and the tools to identify these, insufficient studies into the barriers for Latino children in the access and utilization of mental health services, and cultural and language issues related to Latino research.