Mental Healthcare for Us: Examining Awareness of, Barriers to, and Recommendations for Mental Healthcare among Immigrant-Origin Chinese American Adolescents

Abstract

Background. Ethnic minority adolescents face elevated mental health challenges and encounter significant barriers to accessing mental healthcare compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Despite these challenges, limited research has explored culturally responsive mental healthcare for adolescents from specific Asian American communities, and even fewer studies have actively incorporated adolescents\u27 perspectives to inform treatment and policy. This study aimed to examine the experiences of immigrant-origin Chinese American adolescents with mental health and mental healthcare. Method. Ten immigrant-origin Chinese American adolescents, aged 14 to 17, were recruited through community organizations and participated in semi-structured individual interviews. Open-ended questions focused on mental health awareness, barriers to care, and recommendations for appropriate mental health treatment. The interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive approach, grounded in the reflexive thematic analysis framework. Results. The research team found five major themes from the interviews, which were organized through the lens of ecological systems theory. The themes identified were: 1) Personal Mental Wellbeing, 2) Mental Health Support from Parents and Family, 3) Mental Health Support in the Community and Schools, 4) Mental Health Access, and 5) Preferred Mental Healthcare. Discussion. This study provides a unique focus on immigrant-origin Chinese American adolescents, offering valuable insights into their experiences and preferences for mental healthcare. The findings reveal complex, multifaceted dynamics that inform how mental health care is perceived and sought by this population. The study highlights the need for increased parent education, enhanced community and school resources, and culturally tailored mental healthcare services. Further adolescent-centered research is essential to addressing mental health disparities and improving care for this underserved group