Seeking and obtaining mental health services: What do parents expect?

This study examined parentsʹ expectations about seeking and obtaining mental health care. Using the Expectations of Mental Health Care survey, structured interviews were conducted with 235 parents with children between the ages of 5 and 19; most were African American. Expectations were assessed in four areas: treatment effectiveness, provider/client relationship, accessibility of mental health services, and social and cultural factors, e.g., stigma. Parents reported a number of negative expectations, and black parents had significantly more negative expectations than white parents. The findings suggest that attitudes and expectations may influence parentsʹ decision to seek mental health care for their child.