Latinx youth report elevated internalizing symptomatology as compared to their nonLatinx White counterparts and are less likely to access mental health care for these problems. This qualitative study examined the knowledge, beliefs and perceptions that Latinx parents (86% foreign-born; 66.7% monolingual Spanish speakers) living in urban communities have about mental health and service use for anxiety and depression in children. We used thematic analysis to analyze interview data from 15 Latinx parents who expressed concerns about their child’s (age 6-13) worry or sadness. Analyses revealed that Latinx parents often have difficulty identifying mental health problems, report stigma about mental health problems and help-seeking and want more information about how they can help their children. Although Latinx parents report significant mental health and treatment-seeking stigma, the majority were open to seeking mental health services for their children or were already receiving services. Findings suggest that stigma although prevalent, may not deter service utilization for some Latinx families. Implications for community health and future research are discussed.

Introduction

In the United States, Latinx youth present higher rates of internalizing disorders, such as depression and anxiety, compared to other racial/ethnic groups (Anderson & Mayes, 2010; Ginsburg & Silverman, 1996; Pina & Silverman, 2004; Varela et al., 2004). However, mental health service utilization among Latinx youth is significantly lower than non-Latinx Whites (Gudiño et al., 2009; Kataoka, Zhang & Wells 2002). Furthermore, Latinx parents of youth affected by internalizing disorders are even less likely to seek mental health services compared to parents of youth with externalizing disorders (Alegría et al., 2004; Gudiño et al., 2009). Individual and family-level factors, such as mental health literacy and attitudes towards helpseeking, are often-cited barriers to receiving mental health services (Wright, Jorm, Harris, & McGorry, 2007). Among immigrants, knowledge and recognition of mental illness (including symptoms, signs, modes of expression), beliefs about risk factors and causes of mental illness, knowledge about and attitudes towards help-seeking options, and self-help strategies and social support are all facets of mental health literacy that contribute to help-seeking and are often influenced by cultural beliefs and norms (Na, Ryder, & Kirmayer, 2016). Understanding mental health literacy and attitudes towards help-seeking may be particularly relevant in the context of immigrant Latinx families, in which parents are often faced with navigating new systems of care in order to obtain services for their children. One barrier to service use for Latinx families is knowledge about mental health problems in youth.