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There is an abundance of unmet mental health needs among children in the United States. Perceived barriers to mental health care have been long theorized to have a direct impact on the mental health service utilization of children. However, much of what is known about the perceived barriers of children has come from parent and caregiver reports. Using secondary data analysis, this hypothesis-driven study sought to understand the relationship between children s perception of barriers to mental health care and service utilization. There were two unique aspects of this study. First, the data (N=763) was obtained directly from children and second, it involved children across five service systems: mental health, special education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and substance use.

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Pedro Laureano, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at New York Medical College, School of Health Sciences and Practice, Hawthorne, New York. Dr. Laureano´s background in social work, human services, and mental health research has infused in him a strong appreciation for the importance of viewing individuals in the context of their social environment.

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