Mental distress and mental health services receipt in foreign-born survivors of cancer: A national health interview survey analysis.

Abstract

e19001 Background: There is a greater burden of mental illness, in survivors of cancer compared with the general population. Though mental health interventions may reduce mental distress and improve subsequent oncological outcomes, there are disparities in mental health service (MHS) receipt in immigrant populations. Therefore, we examined contemporary patterns of mental distress and mental health service receipt by immigrant status in cancer survivors in the United States. Methods: Data are collected in non-institutionalized civilian adults by the US National Health Interview Survey. For this study, harmonized data of participants reporting a cancer diagnosis were extracted from the Integrated Health Interview Series from 2009-2018. Sample weight-adjusted estimates of mental distress were defined by the validated Kessler 6 (K6). MHS receipt in the past 12 months was estimated, stratified by K6 status. Multivariable logistic regression defined adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95CI) for the odds of MHS receipt, with birth status (US vs. non-US) as the primary independent variable of interest. Results: Among 14,653 adult survivors of cancer and 207,018 adults without cancer, 4.16% vs. 3.01% had K6 >13, respectively (AOR 0.96, 95CI 0.87-1.07, P = 0.504). Among survivors of cancer, younger age, female sex, and white race were associated with K6>13, while factors associated with lower MHS receipt included non-US born status, non-white race, and older age. The distribution of severe mental illness (K6>13) did not differ by place of birth. However, non-US birth status was associated with lower MHS receipt among survivors of cancer with K6 < 13 (5.61% vs 8.15%, AOR 0.67, 95CI 0.49-0.92, P = 0.013), and there was a greater disparity among those with K6>13 (9.43% vs 37.8%, AOR 0.19, 95CI 0.08-0.45, P < 0.001) (Pinteraction= 0.002). Conclusions: In this large contemporary cross-sectional survey, though there was a similar distribution of mental distress in survivors of cancer based on birth status, non-US born adults with severe mental distress (K613) were 81% less likely to receive MHS relative to US born adults. These data suggest that immigrant survivors of cancer who suffer from severe mental distress may be a greater risk not receiving appropriate MHS, which could lead to subsequent adverse outcome. Given the demonstrated gap in use of MHS in non-US born adults with cancer and severe mental distress, increased efforts are needed to screen for mental illness and the need for MHS in immigrant populations.