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Lack of cultural competence can create barriers to many people’s engagement in and ongoing use of key mental health services. These barriers can include stigma perceived by consumers, mistrust of the mental health care system based on past experiences, conflicting ideas about what constitutes mental health and illness, culturally-based help-seeking behaviors, and lack of insurance. Elimination of these barriers to care and improved access to high-quality care are thought to increase service utilization and improve outcomes for all people. It is widely understood that culturally competent services are necessary in order to improve the mental health system in the US.