While a variety of health concerns have been documented, little is presently known about the mental health challenges facing Samoan Americans in Southern California. This community-based research study investigated the perspectives of Samoan healthcare providers affiliated with two Los Angeles County agencies regarding: 1) mental health challenges; 2) obstacles to use of formal services to address mental health concerns, and 3) recommendations and needed resources for development of culturally responsive interventions to address mental health challenges. Eleven healthcare advocates affiliated with two agencies specializing in health and social services for Samoans participated in a 90-minute group discussion and/or an individual interview. Qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic data analytic approach based on grounded theory. Participants strongly self-identified as Samoan or mixed-race Samoan and were primarily female (73%). Key themes from these discussions are presented to highlight this seminal discussion. Despite concerns regarding substance use, depression, and suicide, significant cultural resources were noted as sources of resilience that could be incorporated into prevention and intervention for Samoan Americans coping with mental health problems. The perspectives of these community advocates for the Samoan community reflect a low level of mental health awareness and identify urgent unmet mental health needs among Samoan Americans in Southern California. Findings support prioritization of mental health awareness interventions and education regarding available services. Systemic efforts to integrate physical and mental health care services may be aligned with traditional Pacific Islander concepts of mental health and facilitate addressing the unmet mental health needs of underserved Samoan Americans.

中文翻译：

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解决南加州萨摩亚裔美国人的心理健康挑战：萨摩亚社区提供者的观点。

虽然已经记录了各种健康问题，但目前对南加州萨摩亚裔美国人面临的心理健康挑战知之甚少。这项以社区为基础的研究调查了隶属于洛杉矶县两个机构的萨摩亚医疗保健提供者对以下方面的看法：1）心理健康挑战；2) 使用正规服务解决心理健康问题的障碍，以及 3) 为应对心理健康挑战而开发具有文化敏感性的干预措施的建议和所需资源。隶属于两个专门为萨摩亚人提供健康和社会服务的机构的 11 名医疗保健倡导者参加了 90 分钟的小组讨论和/或个人访谈。定性数据使用基于扎根理论的主题数据分析方法进行分析。参与者强烈自我认同为萨摩亚人或混血萨摩亚人，主要是女性（73%）。这些讨论的关键主题被提出来突出这一开创性的讨论。尽管对物质使用、抑郁和自杀感到担忧，但重要的文化资源被认为是恢复力的来源，可以纳入萨摩亚裔美国人应对心理健康问题的预防和干预中。这些社区倡导者对萨摩亚社区的看法反映了精神健康意识水平低下，并确定了南加州萨摩亚裔美国人迫切未满足的心理健康需求。调查结果支持优先考虑心理健康意识干预和有关可用服务的教育。