Final answer:
Studies suggest that factors like cultural mistrust, stigma, lack of culturally competent providers, and systemic healthcare disparities contribute to the underutilization of therapy by people of color. Improving access and quality of mental health services are necessary to address these issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research has identified multiple factors that contribute to the underutilization of therapy services by people of color. Studies like Vasquez (2007) suggest that cultural mistrust, stigma around mental health issues, and a lack of culturally competent providers play significant roles in decreasing the likelihood of seeking therapy. In addition, systemic issues such as disparities in access to healthcare, insurance coverage, and the quality of care available to minority populations further exacerbate the underutilization of mental health services.
According to Snowden (2001), one of the barriers is a cultural mistrust in healthcare systems, which has historical roots and continues to affect attitudes towards therapy. Alegría et al. (2008) highlight the existence of disparity in depression treatment among racial and ethnic minority populations, indicating inequalities in the provision and quality of care. Moreover, Manuel (2018) finds significant healthcare disparities based on both race/ethnicity and gender, emphasizing the complexity and intersectionality of the issues at play.
Aggregating these findings, it is clear that in order to improve the utilization of therapy services by people of color, mental health professionals need to work towards building trust within these communities, provide culturally sensitive care, and remove systemic barriers that hinder access to adequate mental health services.