Everyday Discrimination and Mental Health Help-Seeking Attitudes in First- and Second-Generation Jamaican Americans.

HEALTH attitudes; MENTAL health; HELP-seeking behavior; MENTAL health personnel; SEXUAL minorities; PROFESSIONALISM

Jamaican Americans represent a significant proportion of the U.S. population; however, many hesitate to use professional services when struggling with mental health issues. Therefore, it is essential to understand the harriers to receiving treatment. While previous research has revealed links between discrimination and mental health help seeking in minority populations, no such research has examined these variables in the Jamaican American population. The present study examined the association of discrimination experiences with attitudes toward professional help seeking. Results revealed that incidents of everyday discrimination are significantly associated with attitudes toward mental health help seeking for first- and second-generation Jamaican Americans. As the Jamaican American population continues to grow, findings from this study may be beneficial for guiding mental health professionals in developing more culturally appropriate, holistic treatment plans to effectively address trauma and build resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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