Mental health services for all: Factors influencing desire for mental health services among underresourced adults during COVID-19

• Published in: Psychological services Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 144
• Main Authors: Richie, Fallon J, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Jennifer, Kaniuka, Andréa, Wilsey, Corrine N, Mennicke, Annelise, Harris, Yu-Jay, Sullivan, Sharon, Gray, Glori, Cramer, Robert J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2023
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; COVID-19; Humans; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Mental Health Services
• ISSN: 1939-148X
• DOI: 10.1037/ser0000644

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has substantially impacted psychological health in the U.S and has disproportionately impacted underresourced individuals. Despite the higher need for mental health services during this time, service availability and access were disrupted due to increased demand, social distancing recommendations, and stay-at-home orders. Thus, it is crucial to understand factors that predict the desire for psychological services for underresourced individuals. The present study examined factors at multiple levels of Bronfenbrenner's socioecological model (Bronfenbrenner, 1994) to determine which factors best predicted the desire for mental health services including individual, group, in-person, and online services. The sample consisted of 155 underresourced adults in North Carolina. Participants completed an online survey of mental health symptoms, coping strategies, COVID-19 related stressors, and provided demographic information including ZIP code, which was used to classify urban-central and urban-outlying dwellers. Results from univariate general linear models demonstrated that depression symptoms, venting as a coping strategy, COVID-related stress, and living in more rural regions were all significant predictors of the desire for psychological services. Venting as a predictor of the desire for services may signify a general misunderstanding regarding the purpose of psychotherapy as well as the need for individuals to gain social support and connectedness during a pandemic. This study helps to clarify individual-level and contextual factors that impact the desire for psychological services during a global pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).