This study examined the accessibility of community resources (e.g., welfare programs, afterschool programs) for underserved youth and families with mental health needs. Mental health professionals (n = 52) from a large community mental health and welfare agency serving predominantly low-income, Latinx families completed a semi-structured interview that asked about the accessibility of community resources. Participant responses were coded using an iterative thematic analysis based on grounded theory methods. Results showed that 71% of participants endorsed availability barriers (e.g., limited local programs), 37% endorsed logistical barriers (e.g., waitlists), 27% endorsed attitudinal barriers (e.g., stigmatized beliefs about help-seeking), and 23% endorsed knowledge barriers (e.g., lacking awareness about local programs). Professionals’ perceived availability barriers were mostly consistent with the actual availability of community resources. Findings highlight the compounding challenges that disadvantaged communities face and point to opportunities for promoting enhanced well-being and functioning for youth and families with mental health needs.
Lessons Learned From a Low-Income Country to Address Mental Health Needs During COVID-19
