Provided by David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.
Surgeon General of the United States of America
Chapter 2
Overview of Cultural Diversity and Mental Health Services
Hispanic Americans
Several epidemiological studies revealed few differences between Hispanic
Americans and whites in lifetime rates of mental illness (Robins & Regier, 1991;
Vega & Kolody, 1998). A recent study of Mexican Americans in Fresno County,
California, found that Mexican Americans born in the United States had rates of
mental disorders similar to those of other U.S. citizens, whereas immigrants
born in Mexico had lower rates (Vega et al., 1998a). A large study conducted in
Puerto Rico reported similar rates of mental disorders among residents of that
island, compared with those of citizens of the mainland United States (Canino et
al., 1987).
Although rates of mental illness may be similar to whites in general, the
prevalence of particular mental health problems, the manifestation of symptoms,
and help-seeking behaviors within Hispanic subgroups need attention and further
research. For instance, the prevalence of depressive symptomatology is higher in
Hispanic women (46%) than men (almost 20%); yet, the known risk factors do not
totally explain the gender difference (Vega et al., 1998a; Zunzunegui et al.,
1998). Several studies indicate that Puerto Rican and Mexican American women
with depressive symptomatology are underrepresented in mental health services
and overrepresented in general medical services (Hough et al., 1987; Sue et al.,
1991, 1994; Duran, 1995; Jimenez et al., 1997).
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