Mental Health Needs of an Emerging Latino Community in a MidAtlantic City: The Case of Baltimore City (2012-2015)

Abstract

Over the last decade, Baltimore has become a non-traditional Sanctuary City, receiving an unprecedented influx of Latino immigrants. Undocumented immigrants, especially ones coming from Central America’s Northern Triangle, are often exposed to traumatic experiences before, during and after migration, increasing their risk of mental health distress. The purpose of the study was to explore the nature and frequency of healthcare utilization for mental health problems among Latinos who received outpatient care at the Johns Hopkins Hospital between July 2012 and June 2015. We performed a descriptive analysis of Latino participants in The Access Partnership of Johns Hopkins Medicine (TAP) program. The TAP program covers primary and specialty services to uninsured patients living within zip codes in the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Bayview catchment area without regard to documentation status. We assessed the frequency of visits for symptoms and conditions associated with mental health diagnoses. Among all health conditions, mental health disorder was the most common diagnostic category and accounted for 14.88% of all encounters. Within this category, mood disorders (78%) and anxiety disorders (16%) were the most prevalent diagnoses. This descriptive study presents a unique opportunity to explore the burden and nature of mental health disorders among an emerging Latino community for which health care information is rarely attainable. The high use of mental health services in this population highlights the need to develop culturally competent screening mechanisms and interventions to address the stressors faced by emergent Latino communities.