Help-seeking behaviors by Korean immigrants for depression.

Underutilization of mental health services by Asian immigrants has been an ongoing concern for those attempting to provide accessible care for people suffering from mental illness. The author investigated Korean immigrants' help-seeking behaviors for depression to understand their underutilization of mental health services. The study involved 6 focus group discussions and 24 in-depth interviews with 70 Korean immigrants in New York City. Prolonged care within family and traditional Asian practices led to a delay in seeking mental health services, keeping many Korean immigrants with depression out of the delivery system. The lack of interface between formal service providers and psychiatric service providers also caused delayed treatment. This study suggests the need for a comprehensive care model based on community education, linking mental health care with other services, and cultural brokering, as ways to connect population needs with mental health service delivery.