Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes and perspectives that members of the older Latino community associate with mental health and mental health services. The goal of this project was to gain a deeper understanding about the knowledge and views older Latino have on mental health services. In order to do so, our research questions aim to understand why older Latinos may not seek mental health services and to know if services are available in their community. We conducted ten qualitative in-depth interviews in the Sacramento and Fairfield regions where we explored common perceptions of mental health issues in Latino communities within these regions by using the narrative approach. Our sample included 10 first generation Mexican older Latinos above the age of forty. Our findings suggest that Latinos are not seeking mental health services due to being too afraid to talk about being mentally ill, mental health is not a priority, roadblocks to seeking mental health services, lack of education on mental illness, concerns about the effects medication has on the body, exposure to mental illness through the media, religious beliefs on mental illness, and concerns about being a burden on family. We conclude by providing implications for social work practice and future research.