Colonial mentality and mental health help-seeking attitudes among Filipino Americans

Filipino Americans are both the second largest subgroup of Asian Americans and the second largest immigrant population in the United States. They are also the only Asian group that was formally colonized by the United States. Thus, it is surprising that so few studies have focused on this population, specifically with regard to mental health issues, in that Filipino Americans are among the least likely groups to seek help for mental health concerns. In fact, they utilize mental health services less than the general U.S. population and less than any other Asian American group. If one juxtaposes these data with their relatively high rates of psychological distress, depression, and schizophrenia, it sets up a dangerous scenario in that many Filipino Americans suffer from mental illness, and yet, do not seek mental health services.;This study examined colonial mentality, enculturation, and acculturation as possible predictors of mental health help-seeking attitudes. Results showed Filipino Americans who held a colonial mentality (whether covert or overt) were less likely to seek help. However, using structural equation modeling and multiple regression, the results were revised such that these predictors were limited to the variables of interpersonal norms, education, and acculturation. These findings suggest that interventions focused on addressing interpersonal norms (beyond just colonial mentality) may be effective in increasing mental health help-seeking attitudes among Filipino Americans.