The utilisation of a community mental health service by Mexican Americans

The study of the staff, services, and patient population of the East Los Angeles Mental Health Service seven years after its initial operations revealed that: 1 the staff remained predominately bilingual and bicultural; 2 there was a greater demand for direct treatment services than anticipated; 3 the majority (79%) of the patient population was Mexican American, with an increase of foreign-born Mexican Americans; 10% were of other Latin descent; 4 there was an increase of Spanish speaking patients totalling 44% of the entire patient population; 5 the majority of the patients were unemployed or on Medi-Cal; and 6 self referrals increased to a total of 29%, and 10% were referred by former patients of ELAHMS. These conclusions strongly support the argument that Mexican Americans and other Latins would utilise mental health services if personnel and policies were responsive to bilingual and bicultural needs.