TY  - UNPB
ID  - pittir24186
UR  - http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/24186/
A1  - Holmes, Kathryn
Y1  - 2015/04/11/
N2  - Mental illness is of public health significance because it is disabling, costly, and highly prevalent. Prior studies have shown that perceived barriers to mental health treatment, such as stigma, are more likely to prevent people from seeking needed mental health treatment than structural barriers, such as lack of money or transportation. This qualitative study was conducted to determine the perceived barriers to engaging in mental health care at FOCUS Pittsburgh Free Health Center (FPFHC). FPFHC is a faith-based, non-profit health center in Pittsburgh?s Hill District that has been experiencing problems with treatment non-attendance despite being a no-cost mental health clinic that is conveniently located. Perceived barriers such as stigma were believed to be at the root of the lack of treatment engagement, and a focus group was conducted on July 2, 2014 to determine if this belief was indeed correct. Members of the focus group were recruited by the Assistant Director of FOCUS Pittsburgh at a Wednesday evening meal, and thus formed a convenience sample. Five people participated in the focus group, the majority of whom were female, African American, and residents of the Hill District or surrounding communities. Results of the focus group indicate that medical mistrust, concealable stigma, and community stigma impact community engagement in mental health services. Participants also spoke of the importance of spirituality as a coping mechanism. Applicability of these results to FOCUS Pittsburgh Free Health Center is discussed. The extent to which the views expressed in the focus group represent those of the community-at-large is limited by the small sample size. However, the results do provide important direction for future qualitative and quantitative studies in this population.
PB  - University of Pittsburgh
TI  - Perceptions of the use and barriers to use of mental health services in an urban neighborhood
M1  - masteressay
AV  - public
ER  -