Mental Health Stigma and Treatment in the Latinx Community

Mental Health Stigma and Treatment in the Latinx Community

Written by Alma Lazaro, MSW, LSW

The Latinx population is rapidly growing in the United States (Valdivieso-Mora et al., 2016). The Latinx population makes up about 16.3% of the total population in the United States (Mendoza et al., 2015). As a fast-growing population, mental health in the Latinx community has been studied more in recent years, and new findings are coming out about what individuals in the Latinx community face. There are many barriers that impact individuals in minority communities when it comes to mental health. From stigma, feelings surrounding treatment, and systemic barriers, it is important to be able to have an understanding of what individuals in the Latinx community face to understand what it is that mental health professionals and individuals can do to help support someone seeking services. This blog post will help break down some common questions that come along with mental health stigma and treatment in the Latinx community. 

What is mental health stigma?
First, it is important to understand what mental health stigma is. Mental health stigma is defined as negative thoughts and beliefs a person has associated with mental health illnesses and treatment (DeFreitas et al., 2018). This impacts individuals because people will find themselves resisting getting help due to biases related to what it means to receive services for mental health. Mental health stigma may increase the risk of navigating a mental health disorder alone or waiting a long time before receiving treatment, which can impact quality of life. 

How does mental health stigma impact the Latinx Community?
Mental health stigma impacts those in the Latinx community because it is estimated that only 1 out of every 11 Latinx American navigating a mental health disorder will seek treatment (Valdivieso-Mora et al., 2016). This is less than 10%! There can be many reasons why an individual in the Latinx community may be impacted by mental health stigma, but there are common feelings associated with mental health stigma.

What are some common feelings that someone from the Latinx Community may feel when seeking mental health services?
There are common feelings associated with seeking mental health treatment. The following are some of the most common.

1. Shame/Vergüenza: Those in the Latinx community may have a stigma around receiving help due to worry about bringing shame or embarrassment to the family (vergüenza). Due to family being a core value for many in the Latinx community, the feeling of shame can keep people from receiving treatment due to the impact it could have on the family unit. 
2. Guilt/Culpabilidad: How many people have thought to themselves “My life isn’t that bad. Why do I feel this way?” This can bring up feelings of guilt, or culpabilidad. Individuals in the Latinx community can feel guilty for feeling down or impacted by mental health disorders and this may create hesitation in receiving mental health services. This thought may come from themselves or their family. Individuals in the Latinx community often minimize their experiences, which is often a survival tactic when in distress. 
3. Fear/Miedo: There is often fear, or miedo, associated with the unknown. Because mental health is an emerging topic in the Latinx community, one may find themselves feeling fear when thinking about receiving treatment. What will it look like? Where do I even start? All of these questions can impact reaching out for help. 

What are barriers to treatment in the Latinx Community? 
When a person in the Latinx community finds themselves breaking away from the barrier of mental health stigma, there may be other barriers that they have to face. One of the biggest barriers present is accessibility with providers and finances.  

1. Accessibility (Providers): Due to the mental health field continuously growing and changing, there has been a lot of positive change with providers. However, there are still gaps in treatment as far as providers go. Some people may only feel comfortable speaking to a Latinx provider due to feeling worried about providers not understanding their experiences. There is a gap in the amount of Spanish-speaking and Latinx mental health providers in many areas. 
2. Accessibility (Financial): Mental health treatment is becoming more accessible, but there still are barriers. It is estimated that about 37% of those in the Latinx population do not have access to health insurance (Valdivieso-Mora et al., 2016). It is estimated that 22% of Latinx-American adults are living in financial hardship (Valdivieso-Mora et al., 2016). This can significantly impact someone's ability to obtain mental health services. 

How can I combat mental health stigma and barriers to treatment? 

1. Offer an understanding and safe space where there is compassion and empathy.
2. Prioritize accessibility and advocate for accessibility. 
3. Work to break stigmas by not being afraid to talk about mental health.
4. Know what to do if someone asks for help and have readily available resources.
5. Stay educated on current events and topics that impact the Latinx community.

I am in the Latinx community and am seeking services. Where do I start?
You are brave and you are not alone. Many organizations are willing to help. It may help to review the article by Dr. Kat Harris titled “HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT THERAPIST FOR YOU”. Other than this, you can look for Latinx-specific organizations or use a search engine designed to help find providers that meet what you are looking for. Below, you will find a list of Latinx-serving organizations. It is okay to not be okay and reach out for help.

​If you are interested in counseling, call OakHeart at 630-570-0050 or 779-201-6440 or email us at [email protected]. We have counselors, psychologists, and social workers available to help you at one of our locations in North Aurora, IL, Sycamore, IL, and/or via Telehealth Online Therapy Services serving Kane County, DeKalb County, Dupage County, and beyond.

Resources

Latinx Talk Therapy
Therapy,  Immigration Evaluations
155 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 500 C
Chicago, IL 60601
312-620-7551

Latino Treatment Center
Substance Use
54 S. Grove Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
847-695-9155

Latinx Therapy: Find a Latinx Therapist near you
https://latinxtherapy.com/

References

DeFreitas, S. C., Crone, T., DeLeon, M., & Ajayi, A. (2018). Perceived and personal mental health stigma in Latino and African American college students. Frontier Public Health 49(6), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00049 

Mendoza, H., Masuda, A., & Swartout, K. M. (2015). Mental health stigma and self-concealment as predictors of help-seeking attitudes among Latina/o college students in the United States. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 37(3), 207-222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-015-9237-4

Valdivieso-Mora, E., Peet, C. L., Garnier-Villarreal, M., Salazar-Villanea, M., & Johnson, D. K. (2016). A systematic review of the relationship between familism and mental health outcomes in Latino population. Frontier Psychology, 1632(7), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01632