The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59097

Jocelyn A. Hirschman, MPH¹, Ami M. Shah, MPH¹, Cynthia L. Williams, MS², and Steven Whitman, PhD¹. (1) Sinai Health System, Sinai Urban Health Institute, California Ave at 15th St., K430, Chicago, IL 60608, 773-257-5329, hirj@sinai.org, (2) Sinai Health System, Sinai Community Institute, 2653 W. Ogden, Chicago, IL 60608

One of the Leading Health Indicators for the Healthy People 2010 goals is to increase the proportion of adults with recognized depression who receive treatment. Unfortunately, data on depression and mental health service utilization is not typically available at the city or community level where such data would be most useful in designing appropriate, community-based interventions for improving access to mental health services.

A comprehensive health survey of six racially and ethnically diverse community areas in Chicago, perhaps the most segregated city in the US, was implemented to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the utilization of mental health services. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1700 randomly selected adults. The 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms.

The survey reveals vastly different prevalence in depressive symptoms among these six communities. For example, 14% of people in the predominantly White community were depressed compared with 31% in a Black community and 25% in a Mexican community. Utilization of mental health services by those with depression also varied by community: 33% in a White community have seen a mental health professional in the last year, 18% in a Black community, and 19% in a Mexican community.

Our presentation will describe the demographic and SES correlates of depressive symptoms, the utilization of mental health services, and the barriers to care among racial/ethnic groups. Finally, the implications of these findings for reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health by the year 2010 will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:
• recognize the need for local health data on depression and the utilization of mental health services,
• describe the variation and correlates associated with depression symptoms across racial/ethnic groups, and
• discuss the implications for professional practice, including outreach, screening, and intervention for underserved populations.

Keywords: Depression, Minorities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.