Desired Mental Health Resources for Urban,Ethnically Diverse,Impoverished Women Struggling With Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are mental health issues that disproportionately affect women—particularly when access to culturally sensitive care is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify mental health concerns in three urban, ethnically diverse, underserved, and impoverished neighborhoods using the ideological perspective of community-based participatory research. In the context of long-term partnerships between a department of nursing and these neighborhoods, we recruited 61 women aged 18 to 69 years and collected data via homogeneous focus groups comprised of Black, Hispanic, and White women, respectively. We conducted five of the focus groups in English and one in Spanish. The women perceived anxiety and depression as significant concerns for themselves, their families, and their communities. They used unique community resources to manage mental health issues and desired new resources, including support groups and education.

Keywords

depression focus groups health care disparities mental health and illness nursing participatory action research (PAR)research,cross-cultural women’s health

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