Factors in Use of Mental Health Services by Older Adult Immigrants and Nonimmigrants

This study sought factors in older Americans' use of mental health services, via data from 8,877 older adults collected for the 2021 National Health Interview Survey. Logistic regression showed the individuals' likelihood of using mental health services was increased with having a mental health problem (depression or anxiety), being Hispanic, being other non-Black/Asian racial/ethnic minority, being relatively educated, having relatively high family income, being widowed/separated/divorced, being unmarried, and having Medicaid coverage. In turn, likelihood of using mental health services was declined with age and with birth outside the United States. In this study, no link was observed between services use and 10 factors: gender, Black, Asian, U.S. citizenship, employment status, private health insurance coverage, Medicare coverage, time in the United States, English-language proficiency, and psychological distress. Implications of the study's results include the need to broaden Medicaid eligibility, increase funding for community centers serving immigrants, and offer mental health care providers in-service training on aging adults' mental health needs and on various cultural beliefs involving mental health and its treatment.