In the context of Mental Health Awareness Month, which has been observed in the United States since 1949, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that the Latino community "has the same rates of mental illnesses as the rest of the population." However, concerns, experiences, and approaches to understanding and treating them may differ."
It also emphasizes that without good mental health, it is impossible to be healthy, because emotions and moods have a significant impact on the optimal functioning of all of the body's organs and systems.
"Mental health conditions go beyond these emotional reactions we have to specific situations. They are medical conditions that cause changes in our way of thinking and our mood. These changes can disrupt life, making it difficult to maintain relationships with others and affect performance. Without proper treatment, mental health conditions can worsen and make daily life difficult," the statement reads.
According to NAMI, the most common mental health conditions in the Latino community are schizophrenia, generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder.
"Although the Latino community shows a similar predisposition to mental health conditions when compared to the rest of the population, unfortunately, there are disparities in access to treatment and the quality of treatment they receive."
"Although the Latino community shows a similar predisposition to mental health conditions when compared to the rest of the population, unfortunately, there are disparities in access to treatment and the quality of treatment they receive."
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2020, only 35.1% of Latinos with a mental health condition received professional help for their mental health care.
CONFUSION AND MISINFORMATION
"Usually, the Latino community does not talk about mental health problems. There is little information about it, and we cannot know what no one has taught us. Many Latinos do not seek treatment because they do not recognize the symptoms of the conditions or because they do not know where to find help," explain NAMI experts.
This lack of information increases the stigma associated with mental health conditions. Many Latinos do not seek help or treatment for fear of being labeled as "crazy" or someone with a mental health condition, and this can lead to shame.
"Do not let fear of what others may think of you or a loved one prevent the path to recovery," they advise.
RESOURCES
- For mental health crisis support, you can call the County's Access and Crisis line at 988.
- The Affordable Care Act makes it easier to obtain medical coverage to treat health conditions. More information at http://www.healthcare.gov/
