Predictors of help-seeking for mental health in Latinx Americans

Rates of mental illness in the Latinx community have continued to increase, yet Latinxs are less likely to seek mental health help compared to other ethnic and racial groups. The current study assesses the role self-stigma, perceived stigma, acculturation, and perceived discrimination have on Latinx's mental health help-seeking attitudes. I conducted an online survey to assess the relationship between self-stigma, perceived stigma, acculturation, perceived discrimination, and mental health help-seeking attitudes. The survey was distributed online, and participants were required to be at least 18 years of age and of Latinx descent. The survey asked participants for their demographic information and included four scales. The scales used include the Mental Help Seeking Attitude Scale, three subscales from the Stigma and Self-Stigma Questionnaire, the Everyday Discrimination Scale, and The Psychological Acculturation Scale. Results from correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed that self-stigma and perceived stigma were significant predictors of mental health help-seeking attitudes in Latinxs while acculturation and discrimination did not significantly predict mental health help-seeking attitudes in Latinxs.