Differences between Asian and White Americans' help seeking and utilization patterns in the Los Angeles area

This study examines help seeking and utilization patterns of 161 Asian or Pacific Islander Americans and 1332 White Americans randomly selected in the Los Angeles area, based on the first wave of the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA) study. Logistic regression analyses are performed to detect ethnic differences in disclosing mental health problems and utilizing mental health services. Results show that Asian Americans are more reticent than White Americans about mental distress regardless of whether they speak with professionals or family and friends, and that they are unwilling to use mental health services of any type. However, contrary to common assumptions, Asian Americans claim somatic discomfort as frequently as White Americans do, and the somatic discomfort is independent of Asian Americans' unwillingness to talk about mental health problems. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.