Latino mental health stigma on the table

In celebration of Mental Health Month, the organization wellnest los angeles Together with AltaMed and the Los Angeles Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, they are hosting a talk on how to end mental health stigma in the Hispanic community this Wednesday the 24th.

There was a time.

This is an actual event. It will be this Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. at the Wellnest Exposition Park campus, 3787 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90007. But even if you can’t make it, take note of this: Hispanic mental health and stigma attached to it.surrounds you the purpose of this meeting.

And this is not the first time. Led by Charlene Dimas-Peinado, President and CEO of Wellnest and a licensed psychotherapist, the organization is helping change the way Latin Americans think about mental health issues. Wellnest, founded in 1924 in Los Angeles, is one of the oldest and nationally recognized mental health organizations.

The conversation touches on a crucial issue for our lives as Hispanics in the United States. Because what makes us Hispanics? It is not a religion or the color of our skin, although it is a language and culture that is similar in 20 countries in Latin America.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, it is “a shared bond of religious affiliation, strong family ties, connections to extended networks, and a sustainable approach to life and work.”

Most of this community speaks Spanish. There is also a common thread of beliefs, attachments, and a sense of duty to the family, a network of entire communities, and a special focus on hard work as the basis for moving forward.

We have something in common, immigrants in originally foreign lands. And when we arrive, sometimes with one hand in front, the other behind, with clenched teeth and a determined beard, we keep going, overcoming winds and other setbacks.

The circumstances of immigration, life difficulties, economic problems, accommodation in a foreign country and lack of cultural communication, rejection of a xenophobic, racist minority cause an increase in longing, anxiety, sadness, which can then result in, among other things, pathology.

So far, we are no different from others who are going through or have gone through the same thing.

But it is characteristic of our community that mental illness is considered taboo. Weakness. Let it hide. They don’t talk about it, they don’t talk about it, they don’t comment on it, let alone consult.

This is a brand. Sign of Cain.

In a culture like ours that respects resistance, resistance is synonymous with weakness.

And we associate mental illness with the idea of ​​danger, of a vicious character, that someone puts himself and his family in an awkward position.

Stigma becomes a new problem, standing above the disease itself. And it makes it worse. Hispanics in the United States “report a higher prevalence of psychotic symptoms compared to non-Hispanic whites.”

The numbers agree that the problem is serious. According to a study by Mental Health America, 16% of Hispanics reported mental illness in the past year. There are 10 million people members of our community.

The problem then arises as “Hispanics underuse mental health services due to a range of socioeconomic and cultural barriers that limit their access to these services,” the report says. Journal of Systemic Therapy .

And yet, many Hispanics still feel more comfortable talking about personal and emotional issues with friends and family than they do with professionals. But at least they talk.

Comes to the same conclusions Public Journal of Mental Health. Consequences of not seeking help if you are late: “Members of Hispanic communities are much more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia upon admission to a psychiatric hospital compared to their white peers.

Examining the impact of stigma on mental health services, the researchers conclude that “several factors, including mistrust and inequality, prevent people of color from use the services of a psychologist”

Yes, distrust of the fact that another, an American, loves us badly, does not accept. And even if distrust were unfounded, it can prevent us from treating a real, concrete, true ailment.

What are the consequences of stigma? Serious. Because those who suffer refrain from seeking help from counseling services or their doctor, and this only makes their situation worse.

Without treatment, mental health problems can worsen.

According to him Journal of Systemic TherapySee also: “the belief that a person is responsible for their own mental health problems is associated with higher levels of stigma.”

This idea that someone is to blame for their depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia is palpable. The question “what reason do you really have to be depressed?” pretty common? with which a friend or family member reacts when a person suffering from a problem is finally encouraged and with great apprehension to confide.

Consequently, half of Hispanics aged 18 to 25 with serious mental illness do not receive treatment.

As a solution, information, learning and knowledge of reality are crucial. Community members can learn to define symptoms as a treatable health condition. This, in turn, can reduce stigma and increase the number of Hispanics receiving treatment for not only mental but also physical health. These efforts are critical because “there is ample evidence that Hispanics are waiting for disease progression to end to seek help,” according to research.

Hosted by Wellnest Los Angeles in partnership with AltaMed and the Los Angeles Latin American Chamber of Commerce, the talk is another step in a long journey of getting members of our community to understand the problem and believe in the solutions offered by medical science.