Comparison of Mental Health Service Utilization by Asian Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites versus Their Cardiovascular Care Utilization

Abstract

INTRODUCTION This study will determine whether racial/ethnic disparities persist in various psychiatric disorders among Asian Americans. METHODS Secondary analyses of data from the second largest public health system in the US (total N=22294) were performed. Chi-squared statistics were used to compare the race for mental health service utilization for five psychiatric diagnoses. Cardiovascular care utilization by Asian Americans and non-Hispanic whites was used as a proxy for overall healthcare utilization rates between the two racial groups and constituted the expected values for the analysis. RESULTS Asian Americans were less likely to utilize mental health services for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and intellectual disabilities. CONCLUSION The results of this study call for ways to increase mental health service utilization on par with cardiovascular healthcare utilization among Asian Americans.