The Impact of School-Based Health Centers on Ethnic Minority Adolescents’ Awareness, Perception, and Utilization of Mental Health Services

Abstract

This study explored the impact of School based health centers on the awareness and perception of mental health and services on students of ethnic minority populations. It also explored the impact of the use School based health centers on further utilization of mental health services beyond the School based health center. The purpose of the study was to gain insight on the effectiveness of this School based health center at addressing the barriers faced by the ethnic minority population to seeking, engaging, and being satisfied with mental health treatment. Three ethnic minority students, aged 17-18, participated and completed an eight-item Likert-scale survey regarding client’s perception and awareness of mental health pre and post use of the School based health center. The School based health center helped improve perceptions of mental health, counseling and therapy.