Determining the Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in the Uninsured and Medically Underserved Twin Cities Community at Rahma Clinic

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of depression among underserved and uninsured communities by analyzing depression screening data obtained from Rahma Clinic. The clinic offers free healthcare services to predominantly South Asian, Middle Eastern, and East African populations. Due to the stigma attached to mental health issues within these communities, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was utilized to gather data on depressive symptoms among participants. The study examined whether the prevalence and severity of depression varied based on demographic characteristics such as age and race. Despite limitations, such as small sample size and the use of telehealth due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the study findings indicated that there was no significant difference in depression status between different races (p-value = 0.22). There was no significant difference in mean ages between depressed and non-depressed populations. The study aimed to promote mental health interventions for underserved communities and highlight the need for further research to address its limitations. The results will be shared with the local community to foster dialogue around mental health and reduce the stigma associated with it.