(PS10-13) Engagement in a Trauma Center-Based Mental Health Program Among Latine Traumatic Injury Survivors

Abstract Text: Latine individuals represent 19% of the total US population and 14% of the total US workforce, with 50% being immigrant. Latine and immigrants are often employed in more hazardous occupations involving unskilled labor compared to their White counterparts, leading to higher rates of traumatic injury with falls, machinery accidents, and motor vehicle crashes contributing to significant physical trauma. These injuries place Latine survivors at an increased risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, with some studies suggesting higher odds of psychological distress compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Despite this heightened vulnerability, Latine injury survivors face numerous barriers to accessing mental health care, contributing to alarmingly low rates of mental health service utilization, leaving many without the necessary support for emotional recovery. Trauma centers are well-positioned to address patients’ behavioral health needs. However, fewer than 30% of trauma centers in the US provide screening, and/or direct treatment services for injury patients despite the American College of Surgeons guidelines. Our team launched the Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program (TRRP), an evidence-based program launched in 2015 at our Level I trauma center. By examining patient engagement and clinical outcomes within the Latine population, this study seeks to identify gaps in equitable trauma care and uncover strategies to improve access, engagement, and quality of mental health services for Latine injury survivors. A total of 5620 patients were screened for acute distress at bedside, 5.7% (N=318) identified as Latine, 54.9% (N=3,083) identified as non-Latine white (NLW), and 39.5% (N=2219) identified as non-Latine black (NLB). At bedside, we saw comparably high eligibility and enrollment in TRRP follow up services across the three groups. The proportion of those screening positive for acute distress at bedside were higher in Latine and NLB compared to NLW. At 30-day follow up, the three groups had similar response rates to screening assessments for PTSD and depression (61.6% Latine, 60.5% NLW, 56.7% NLB), with higher proportions of positive screens in Latine (75%) and NLB (54%) individuals compared to NLW. Once 30 day follow up analysis was adjusted for race/ethnicity, there were no differences found in the odds of screening positive between Latine and NLW. Of those who screened positive at 30-day screening (N=549), 62.7% (N=344) accepted referrals, with no differences found between race group. These findings underscore the need for trauma centers to provide equitable, culturally responsive mental health care for Latine injury survivors. Furthermore, the implications of this study suggest that, although the odds of screening positive at 30 days were higher for Latine and non-Latine Black (NLB) individuals compared to non-Latine White (NLW) individuals, this disparity may not be attributable solely to race or ethnicity. Adverse social determinants of health, such as economic instability and barriers to healthcare access, may contribute to this disparity. Future research should evaluate interventions that address both mental health and social needs to enhance recovery and quality of life.