Abstract
With the consistently growing population of Hmong Americans, this study will contribute to the few research articles that exist and serve to promote more thorough understanding of mental health needs in the Hmong community, with greatest emphasis on highlighting current barriers to accessing mental health care. The goal of this study is to retrieve and examine research on Hmong mental health concerns, barriers to addressing those concerns in mental health treatment settings, and to provide an analysis of findings. The research question focuses on: What are the obstacles that deter the Hmong from utilizing mental health services? This systematic review synthesized relevant research to identify the barriers to seeking mental health services for the Hmong. Articles pertaining to the Hmong population, specifically around mental health services were selected through inclusion and exclusion criteria. After conducting analysis of the literature, six interrelated themes emerged as indicators of obstacles to seeking mental health services for the Hmong: 1) cultural practices and beliefs, 2) mental health literacy, 3) language barriers, 4) stigma, 5) accessibility and affordability and 6) trust.