Cultural Disparities In Mental Health

To address the disparities in mental health agencies, Barksdale et al., (2014) wrote a paper that explores how the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care could be utilized by mental health agencies. The concern is that in some mental health agencies, there is a disconnected gap to understanding the cultural needs of the diverse population and it is causing a negative reflection in the agencies as well as in its providers. Furthermore, there is a lack of consideration and respect for clients’ cultural beliefs (Barksdale et al., 2014). With the incorporation of culturally and linguistically competent practices, increased client satisfaction,

positive perceptions of mental health care and utilization, reduction of the evident disparities should significantly decrease (Barksdale et al., 2014). A few examples of how the competent practices could be incorporated are as followed: providing ongoing in-service training and/or additional employee incentives to complete trainings that meet the unique needs of the population (Barksdale et al., 2014). By the same token, ensuring that the staff has all of the appropriate resources and tools such as access to interventions, research journals and manuals that cover all aspects of different cultures is recommended as well (Barskdale et al., 2014).

When looking at the language aspect of the CLAS approach, ensuring that if interpreters are brought into the practice, they are highly qualified and trained to help facilitate or provide appropriate services is necessary (Barksdale et al., 2014). To provide continuous improvements and accountability, agencies and other medical professionals can conduct self-report questionnaires and regular meetings to address any ongoing concerns with the progress of the approach. In addition, providing evaluation surveys to the clients in hope that they will give honest feedback to determine how to continue improving moving forward (Barksdale et al., 2014). While the National CLAS approach may have its limitations, the goal is to introduce it to many settings to lead to effective, understandable and respectful care and services that are responsive to the ethnic population’s health, beliefs and practices, and preferred languages (Barksdale et al.,

2014).
Looking further into the perception of mental health care, Cai and Robst (2015) conducted a study to better understand the racial differences in the perceived experiences of mental health care among an insured sample covered by the Florida Medicaid program.

It was hypothesized that members of the ethnic population would have more negative perceptions of the mental healthcare treatment received than Whites. Data was collected through utilizing a self-report questionnaire. Interestingly enough, the results supported their hypothesis, in that, there was a significant difference in the satisfaction with mental health services in the past 6 months among African Americans, Hispanics and Whites (Cai & Robst, 2015). The researchers went so far as to suggest the need for medical professionals to put an effort in to help improve the perception of the ethnic population and help to deliver accurate and effective services. As well as, exposing the clinicians to cultural sensitivity education, which could improve the communication gap with their clients (Cai & Robst, 2015). The article mentioned above utilizing the CLAS standards approach could be a great resource for the study Cai and Robst, (2015)

conducted.
Not only did Barksdale et al., (2014) discuss an approach for agencies and other medical professionals but, Farber, Ali, Sickle, & Kaslow, (2017) recently have as well. Fairly new to the field, the patient-centered medical home model (PCMH) offers promise in bridging the health disparities divide (Farber et al., 2017). The model’s goal is to enhance patient experiences, improve population health overall, and reduce per capita cost (Farber et al., 2017). One important point that the PCMH model utilizes is the appropriate practice of culturally and linguistically care strategies. The standards specify that PCMH practices should incorporate an open line of communication with every client (Farber et al., 2017). In addition, as Barksdale et al., (2014) suggested as well is maintaining an ongoing routine of accountability and improvements are always highly suggested if incorporating the PCMH model. As part of this work, the PCMH model offers support that team-based care positively influences patient-provider relationships which in return can enhance the patient’s perceptions of quality of care and health outcomes (Farber et al., 2017). By this positive turn out, the chances of a client coming back for more services or referring others is more likely.