Mental health care utilization at a free drop-in youth center in St. Louis, Missouri.

We review demographic and mental health data from 1,729 youths aged 13 to 24 who attended the SPOT (Supporting Positive Opportunities with Teens), a free multi-resource drop-in youth center in St. Louis, within an 18-month period. Logistic regression analysis showed an association of increased mental health utilization and younger age, male gender, unemployment, lower educational attainment, having Medicaid, drug problems, and HIV positive status. Decreased mental health utilization was associated with black or mixed ethnicity, and living with a roommate.