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Presenter: Leticia Lantican, Ph.D., University of Texas at El Paso

Mental Health Care Integration in Primary Care Settings: Perspectives From Clients And Primary Care Providers in a US-Mexico Border City

Authors: Leticia Lantican

Background:
This study aimed to investigate needs and problems in mental health care in primary care settings. The goal was to provide baseline data for implementing mental health-primary care integrative services that are accessible and culturally acceptable to diverse clientele in a border city in southwest Texas.

Method : 
Study participants were clients and health care providers in primary care clinics serving predominantly low-income Mexican-American clientele. Interview-questionnaires were used with 400 Mexican-American clients regarding their perceptions of mental health problems and care; intentions and barriers to utilizing mental health services in primary care settings; and suggestions for making mental health care more accessible and acceptable. Focus groups with 45 Mexican-Americans provided additional data. Twenty one primary care providers (50% Hispanic) returned mailed questionnaires on their perceptions of mental health problems and care; training needs; barriers to using standardized mental health screening tools; and suggestions for making mental health care accessible and acceptable in these settings. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Results : 
Both clients and primary care providers revealed similar perceptions of mental health problems and care especially on the need to seek professional help for mental health problems; 97% of clients were likely to use mental health services in primary care settings. Regression analysis showed that education and satisfaction with primary care services are major predictors of potential mental health service utilization. Majority (90%) of primary care providers favored using mental health assessment tools in primary care practice and 95 % favored the idea of integrated mental health-primary care services. Both types of participants underscored cultural factors in making mental health care more accessible and culturally acceptable in primary care settings.

Conclusion:
This study raised pertinent implications on health policies for preventive mental health service delivery in primary care settings.