CHSU Discovery

Abstract
The patient population at United Health Centers (UHC) Bullard in Fresno experiences
barriers to seeking mental health resources such as lack of awareness regarding
available resources, cultural stigma, financial constraints, lack of transportation,
shortage of mental health providers, language barriers, and lack of education. In the
present study, a brochure and resource list was administered along with a pre-reading
and post-reading survey. Our goal was to determine patients' prior knowledge of mental
health resources, as well as to assess the effectiveness of the brochure in helping
patients become more comfortable utilizing mental health resources. This three-phase
study utilized a quasi-experimental research design in order to determine if there was a
causal relationship between an educational brochure and patient resource utilization.
Data analysis of the survey responses showed that the brochure and resource list did
not significantly change patients’ comfort level in using mental health resources. The
lack of human interaction, and personalization that an online/paper brochure and survey
create presents a possible limitation to the impact our research can have on the
UHC-Bullard patient population. Mental health providers could utilize the brochure and
resource list as an adjunct to their mental health therapy rather than as an independent
resource.