Mental Health Treatment and Media Preferences for Persons of Mexican Heritage

Determining culturally based methods of care aligning with patient values and preferences is a focal point in mental health services provision. Unfortunately,  few studies have focus on mental health treatment preferences of persons of Mexican heritage. A wide range of factors may influence treatment preferences including personal characteristics, acculturation perspectives about mental health issues, illness and treatment experience, and media influences presented in English and Spanish. Achieving patient-centered care in mental health services begins with understanding patient values and preferences and adapting services to meet needs, values and preferences.  

Problem: This qualitative study describes the treatment preferences, media preferences and influences, and ascribed meanings of mental health treatment for persons of Mexican heritage.

Methods: In this IRB approved study, twenty-one participants living along the US-Mexico border in Yuma County, Arizona were interviewed and responses analyzed using Atlas-ti qualitative analysis software. The participants reported twenty-five treatment preferences associated with their demographics.  

Results: Media influences on mental health information and ascribed meaning of mental health and illness also affected treatment preferences. Themes identified included- prescribed mental health treatments, self-management interventions, and holistic- integrative medicine treatments. Implications for provision of culturally-sensitive mental health services will be discussed. Mental health services for persons of Mexican heritage should include varying holistic mental health treatment practices, need for varied media modes and an understanding of potential meanings for mental health issues and illness.

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