“You Got to Keep It Secret”, Barriers to Mental Health Treatment Among Low-income, Midlife Women: A Qualitative Study

This study provided deeper insight from the unique community of low-income, primarily Black and Latina women in North Philadelphia. Our findings suggested that efforts to decrease stigma and educate this population of women about the significance and prevalence of mental health disorders may improve the disparities in mental health treatment in this population of midlife women. Continued emphasis on strengthening the connection between the woman and her therapist/psychiatrist and improving access to community-based interventions may help address treatment disparities in midlife women in North Philadelphia.