A new study from UCLA has found significant racial and ethnic disparities in children’s mental health treatment across the United States. The research, published Monday in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, reveals that Black and Hispanic youth are substantially less likely to receive mental health services compared to their white counterparts.
Led by Dr. Susan Ettner, a professor of health policy and management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, the study analyzed data from over 50,000 children aged 5-17. It found that even when controlling for socioeconomic factors and health insurance status, racial and ethnic minority children had lower rates of mental health service utilization.
Black children were 40% less likely and Hispanic children were 50% less likely than white children to receive any mental health care. The disparities were particularly stark for mood and anxiety disorders, the most common mental health conditions in youth.
“Our findings highlight the urgent need to address racial and ethnic inequities in access to children’s mental health services,” said Ettner. “Underdiagnosis and undertreatment of mental illness in minority youth can have devastating long-term consequences.”
The researchers call for targeted interventions and policies to improve mental health screening and treatment for underserved populations. Proposed solutions include expanding school and community-based services, diversifying the mental health workforce, and increasing culturally-competent care.
See “Race, ethnicity influences disparity in children’s mental health care, study finds” (May 27, 2024)
