Asian Immigrant Parents’ Perception of Barriers Preventing Adolescents from Seeking School-Based Mental Health Services

Abstract

Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to receive school-based mental health services (SBMHS) than White students, although these services have increased accessibility and produced positive youth outcomes. To reduce barriers and engage minority and immigrant adolescents in SBMHS, it is important to understand parents’ perception as they play an important role in guiding adolescents to seek help for mental health challenges. The current mixed methods study examined Asian immigrant parents’ levels of mental health literacy (MHL; symptoms recognition and knowledge of appropriate treatment options) using case vignettes describing bulimia or depression as well as their perceptions of barriers for utilizing SBMHS. A total of 19 parents (mean age = 45.4 years, SD = 4.5; 89.5% mothers) completed a survey and in-depth interview. All parents were born outside the USA and have been in the USA for an average of 16.8 years (SD = 11.1). Survey results showed that Asian immigrant parents had difficulty recognizing bulimia, and only 36.8% (n = 7) of them rated antidepressants to be helpful for depression. In-depth interviews with parents revealed four major types of barriers to seeking SBMHS for their adolescents, including knowledge, attitudinal, structural/practical, and relational barriers. Furthermore, cultural themes were embedded in parents’ perception, demonstrating the specific cultural influences on barriers related to SBMHS. Implications for engaging immigrant families in SBMHS are discussed.