Understanding mental health in Latinx/Hispanic communities

The Latinx/Hispanic community is made up of a diverse group of people who are often distinguished by their country of origin or family heritage.

For the Latinx/Hispanic community, talking about mental health is often stigmatized, leading to prolonged suffering in silence. This silence exacerbates a variety of experiences, including immigration, acculturation, trauma and generational conflicts, that may result in mental health disorders. Furthermore, the Latinx/Hispanic community has distinct institutional and systemic barriers that may obstruct access to mental health treatments, resulting in decreased help-seeking behaviors.

To increase public awareness about mental health, institutions like Mental Health America (MHA) work both nationally and locally. It is recommended that people at risk of mental illness or related disorders should get early interventions tailored to their particular requirements. These institutions are working continuously to provide the necessary resources and information to help bridge the knowledge gap concerning mental health disorders. These efforts will further the normalization of mental health dialogues in the community.

Demographic concerns

The number of Latinx/Hispanic individuals in the United States is anticipated to increase to 119 million by 2060, (28.6% of the population). Mexicans make up 62 percent of the Latinx/Hispanic population in the US, followed by Puerto Ricans at 9.5 percent, El Salvadorans at 3.9 percent, Cubans at 3.9 percent, Dominicans at 3.5 percent and Guatemalans at 2.5 percent. 33% of new immigrants to the United States are Latinx/Hispanic, while 79 percent of Latinx/Hispanic residents are citizens. In the United States, 19% of Latinx/Hispanic individuals are poverty-stricken.

Societal stereotype

Their spiritual beliefs are important protective factors for the Latinx/Hispanic community, including cultures like faith and prayer. This contributes to the stigma associated with mental illness and treatment (demons, lack of faith and sinful behavior). As a result, it is vital to address religious institutions to encourage good mental health practices and treatment-seeking.

In Latinx/Hispanic cultures, especially in elderly individuals, there is a perception that discussing mental health issues might disgrace and shame the family, preventing more people from seeking assistance.

Prevalence of mental health disparities

According to studies, senior citizens and children in the community are more likely to experience mental discomfort related to immigration and acculturation. Although rates of mental health issues are greater among Latinx/Hispanic Americans who were born in the United States than those who migrated, they are still lower than those for non-Latinx whites. Despite this, according to the SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, general mental health difficulties among Latinx/Hispanic adults aged 12-49 are on the rise.

Major depressive episodes increased from 12.6% to 15.1% in Latinx/Hispanic kids, 8% to 12% in young adults, and 4.5% to 6% among those aged 26-49 between 2015 and 2018. Suicidal thoughts and attempts among young adults are also on the rise. Adult Latinx/Hispanics with mental health issues are more likely to tilt towards substance abuse like binge drinking, smoking (cigars and marijuana), and intake of illegal drugs and prescription painkillers.

Treatment hurdles

Latinx/Hispanic patients are 10% more likely to seek treatment for mental health disorders from a primary care provider than from a mental health specialist (5%). Lack of communication with health care providers is often an obstacle as there is a shortage of bilingual mental health experts.

Access to mental health

In the United States, 18% of Latinx/Hispanic persons lack health insurance, with Honduran and Guatemalan origin groups having the highest uninsured rate percentages (35% and 33% respectively). In 2018, 56.8% of Latinx/Hispanic young adults 18-25 and 39.6% of adults 26-49 with significant mental illness were unable to get assistance. Almost 90% of Latinx/Hispanic adults over the age of 12 with a substance use disorder do not receive treatment.