Peer-reviewed article

Facilitators and barriers to Latino/a adolescents' help-seeking behaviors: Discussing mental health needs with parents and engaging in mental health services.

Cross FL, Lucio J, Webster A, Sessa Z, Suarez I et al. · 1 Sept 2026

Abstract

Latino/a adolescents report worse mental health than other ethnic-racial groups in the United States, including elevated depressive symptoms and anxiety, yet they remain less likely to access mental health services. Negative perception about mental health within Latino/a communities, shaped by negative beliefs about mental illness and limited knowledge of treatment, poses significant obstacles to care. Low mental health literacy, including poor understanding of depression, anxiety, and the role of therapy and medication, further contributes to negative attitudes about mental health. Prior work shows that Latino/a adolescents often avoid disclosing mental health concerns to parents to prevent burdening them, and this lack of communication impacts their help-seeking behaviors. To examine these challenges, we conducted six focus groups (n = 56) with Latino/a parents and adolescents aged 14-17 from Michigan and Texas. Analysis identified negative perceptions about mental health as a central obstacle for both parents and adolescents, limiting open dialogue about mental health. Adolescents reported fears of judgment or symptom minimization, contributing to delayed help-seeking behaviors. Parents expressed a need for greater mental health knowledge, including symptom recognition, treatments, and strategies for discussing mental health with their adolescent children. Adolescents emphasized the importance of trust, confidentiality, and family acceptance in facilitating disclosure and support. Findings underscore the need for interventions that reduce negative perception about mental health, improve mental health literacy, and strengthen parent-adolescent communication to enhance Latino/a adolescents' access to mental health care. Practitioners can support families by providing tools that support dialogue and reduce negative-perceptions about mental health.