BRIDGING THE GAP FOR PARENTS SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN

The rising statistics of adolescents suffering from concerns of mental health in all its various diagnosis, is an increasing problem for the community. The understanding of mental health in adolescents is now continuously being explored due to the rise of concerns. Although professionals continue to research and address the rise of mental health, parental literacy regarding addressing mental health concerns constitutes as one of the number one factors in prevention. The research presented in this paper uses a qualitative approach to study parental literacy and culture regarding mental health in adolescents within the San Bernardino County community. The qualitative research included N =19 parent who provided their narratives on their experiences of literacy regarding mental health services in the San Bernardino County. This research established a baseline in the community for parents to start establishing an understanding of mental health in adolescents and provides a mechanism for reflection that will in turn produce preventative methods of addressing these mental health concerns. This research answered the following questions: What is the current understanding of parental knowledge of mental health and how to obtain services for mental health concerns? What is their receptiveness in engaging in help-seeking behaviors?