California Southeast Asian Mental Health Needs Assessment Study, 1986-1987

The central purpose of this needs assessment epidemiological study was to investigate and to document the mental health needs, mental health service utilization, as well as use of indigenous healers among Southeast Asian refugees both currently in ten counties in California, and formerly in their native countries. The total sample consisted of 2,773 participants: 867 Vietnamese-Americans; 590 Cambodians-Americans; 723 Lao-Americans; 302 Hmong-Americans; 291 Chinese-Vietnamese-Americans. Of the 2,773 participants, 1534 (55.3%) were male: 508 Vietnamese, 423 Lao, 290 Cambodian, 164 Hmong, and 149 Chinese-Vietnamese, and 1239 (43.7%) were female: 359 Vietnamese, 300 Cambodian, 300 Lao, 142 Chinese-Vietnamese, and 138 Hmong, ranging from 18 to 68 years. The Asian Community Mental Health Services initiated a statewide survey assessing the mental health needs of Southeast Asian refugees living in California. The study, conducted between August, 1986 and April, 1987, examined health beliefs, and help-seeking behaviors. The Murray Research Archive holds numeric file data from this study in SPSS format, and a follow-up study may only be performed with the collaboration of the Contributor.