Mexican-American Perceptions of Severe Mental Illness

Bibliographic Data

ID2499524
AuthorsMaria Luisa Urdaneta (The University of Texas at San Antonio), María Urdaneta, Delia Saldaña (0000-0002-4192-7924, San Antonio State Chest Hospital), Anne Winkler
Year1995
Volume54
Issue1
Pages70-77
Publication date1995-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHuman Organization (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0018-7259 • E-ISSN: 1938-3517
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.17730/humo.54.1.e216p6442857477q
OpenAlexW2007932178
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited8

In south Texas, Mexican-Americans make up a large part of the patient population in public psychiatric facilities. Changing demographic trends that increase the proportion of Hispanics across the United States suggested the relevance of a comprehensive assessment of the perceptions of mental illness and hospital treatment among families of Mexican-American psychiatric patients. Results indicate low levels of formal education and acculturation in respondents, accompanied by minimal knowledge about severe mental illness despite having lived with a relative who had been hospitalized several times. The study shows a great need for educational and preventive outreach programs presented in simple idiomatic Spanish to reach this population. Further, pervasive barriers due to rurality and low socio-economic status imply that cultural influences on perceptions of illness should not be overinterpreted

Mental health · Mental illness · Perception · Psychiatry · Clinical Psychology · Cultural Competency in Health Care · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Social Psychology

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