
The proliferation of the Latino population in the United States portends the urgency to understand their mental health care needs. It is well documented that Latinos are the largest ethnic minority group in this country, yet Latinos are the least likely to utilize mental health care services. This paper identifies and examines cultural barriers and current practices that may affect mental health care service utilization among Latinos. It presents a discussion and conclusion and implications to enhance cultural sensitivity in education and training for the next generation of mental health care practitioners.