As with many other minority groups, mental health is often ignored in the Hispanic community. Especially in this ethnic group, mental health disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are stigmatized with labels like “being crazy.” Language barriers also present an issue when confronting their mental health. As a result, Latino Americans are not as willing to seek advice or consult a medical professional with their mental health issues. And with a surging Hispanic population within the United States, this will continue to be a problem.
The Hispanic population accounts for roughly 18% of the US population but about 27% of the poverty population. Poverty can be associated with lesser education, impaired living conditions, and limited access to resources. All of these factors negatively impact the mental health of Latino Americans. Immigration can play a large role as well. As hispanics immigrate to the US, they face the stressors that accompany adapting to a new lifestyle in a foreign country. Initially, these stressors are acute, such as a tedious migratory process. However, oftentimes Hispanic immigrants are faced with chronic stressors. For example, and especially now, they could be constantly worrying about their documentation status. These stressors are likely to be continuously present, and after a while, would negatively impact the mental health of Hispanic Americans.
Latino and Hispanic teens have higher rates of depression and suicide than those of their peers. However, they are less likely to receive mental health treatment than their peers. Many latino teens have migrated from their country to the United States at a young age or recently and this is likely cause of increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Their home environment is also a factor in their mental health like all teens. For example, family stressors like acculturation, parent-child culture, language discordances, defined family roles, and parenting styles.
According to the the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health‘s YRBSS self survey, latino teens had the highest suicidal ideation at 25.6% compared to 22.8% of their white peers. For latino males this rate was 12% compared to 11.5% of their white peers. The rate of attempted suicide attempts was 15.1% in latino females compared to9.8% of their peers. In males, this comparison is 7.6% versus 3.7%. The 2011 YRBSS showed results that 32.6% of Latino students reported feelings of hopelessness and sadness that continued for more than two weeks and resulted in decreased participation in activities they had previously enjoyed, compared to 27.2 percent of white students and 24.7 percent of black students.
Some resources that will help anyone in the hispanic community:
Directs people to Hispanic/latino therapists
Supports the Hispanic community and promotes research, education, and advocacy for Hispanic Mental Health.
Provides mental health resources and information for Spanish speakers.
Cites Used:
Bureau, U.S. Census. “Hispanic Poverty Rate Hit an All-Time Low in 2017.” The United
States Census Bureau, 16 July 2019,
www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/02/hispanic-poverty-rate-hit-an-all-time-
low-in-2017.html.
Campbell, Glenn. “Overcoming Mental Health Stigma in the Latino Community.”
Consult QD, Consult QD, 21 Nov. 2017, consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/overcoming-
mental-health-stigma-in-the-latino-community/.
Office of the Surgeon General (US). “Chapter 6 Mental Health Care for Hispanic
Americans.” Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity: A Supplement to Mental
Health: A Report of the Surgeon General., U.S. National Library of Medicine,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44247/.
Sternberg, Rosa Maria, et al. “Development of the Stress of Immigration Survey: A
Field Test Among Mexican Immigrant Women.” Family & Community Health, U.S.
National Library of Medicine, 2016,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4747418/#:~:text=Immigration%20s
tress%20ref