Ethnic differences in mental health services use among the severely mentally ill

Ethnic differences were examined in patterns of service utilization among 4,000 of the most seriously impaired clients in two county mental health services systems having differing histories of specialized minority-oriented programming. Latino and Asian-American clients in one county and, to a lesser extent African-American clients, made more use than Whites of outpatient and supportive/community services. All three minority groups made less use of inpatient care than Whites. The pattern was reversed in a second county. Results point to the need for greater attention to how mental health service systems are organized to meet special sociocultural needs of ethnic minority clients who have severe mental illness.