Access and Utilization of Mental Health Services Among Pacific Islanders

Partly due to their small population size. Pacific Islanders (PIs) are often understudied in mental health research and interventions. Although scant, existing research has documented high rates of mental health issues but low access and use of services among PIs. The purpose of this research was to explore the barriers and facilitators to access and use of mental health care services among PI adults. Face-to-face, one-on-one semistructured interviews were conducted among 12 PI adults living in Southern California who were recruited to the study by trained community leaders. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify emergent themes. A total of 5 themes emerged from the interviews: (a) mental health stigma, (b) culture and language barriers, and (c) concerns regarding cost of care and health insurance were themes that emerged around barriers to access and use of mental health services. Themes related to facilitators included (d) family and friend support and (e) the need for outreach and education to increase awareness about mental health. Findings from this research underscore the importance of facilitators to help seeking among PI adults: family, friends, and outreach and education.