Utilization Patterns of a CMHC in an Urban Ghetto Area

Economically disadvantaged and minority patients often are viewed as being reluctant to use outpatient mental health sevices, especially psychoanalytically oriented ones. They are also believed to have high rates of dropout from treatment. A community mental health center in New York City's Spanish Harlem studied its clientele over a year and found that center usage and client outcome were unrelated to social, ethnic, or cultural factors, but depended on clinical considerations. A small percentage of the patients consumed more than half of the center's services over the study period. A vety low initial dropout rate also was noted. The authors found no significant evidence of the so-called "machismo" effect among Hispanic males that would reduce their participation in mental health services.