Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Use of Mental Health Services in Poverty Areas

Objectives. This study examined racial/ethnic disparities in mental health service ac-cess and use at different poverty levels. Methods. We compared demographic and clinical characteristics and service use pat-terns of Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians living in low-poverty and high-poverty areas. Logistic regression models were used to assess service use patterns of minor-ity racial/ethnic groups compared with Whites in different poverty areas. Results. Residence in a poverty neighborhood moderates the relationship between race/ethnicity and mental health service access and use. Disparities in using emergency and inpatient services and having coercive referrals were more evident in low-poverty than in high-poverty areas. Conclusions. Neighborhood poverty is a key to understanding racial/ethnic disparities in the use of mental health services. (Am J Public Health. 2003;93:792–797