Glimpse: So, how can we overcome barriers to mental health help-seeking in the Hispanic/Latino/Latinx community? I asked 19 people here in Idaho.
I. Relationships are really important in the Hispanic community
A. Mental health professionals, Take the time to really know them. They prefer fellow Hispanics, or at least someone who tries to understand and respect them. Family and friends can help by creating a safe environment for open communication.
B. Really humanize the patients and don't treat them as just another number.
II. Higher Levels of Education and/or knowledge of the Outside world or acculturation
A. Affects their level of acceptance and understanding of the mental health system.
B. Knowledge about available resources, and allaying fears of legal risks
C. Normalize mental health as much as possible
D. Hence, teachers, school counselors, and leaders in the community are essential allies.
III. Community outreach and a more visual presence.
A. They want to know you before they go to you
B. Word of mouth is powerful
IV. Cultural background, history and stigma
A. Shaped by the powerful forces of a common language and religion for the past 5 centuries.
B. “Crazy docs” and “crazy pills”
C. Suicides were sinful enough to keep you out of Heaven
D. Hispanics tend to be raised to be stoic, and men are instilled a sense of strong masculinity to never show weakness
E. It’s not uncommon for them to consult witch doctors. Mental health issues or relationship/love problems are sometimes seen as spells that need to be broken (witch doctors are familiar and are good with relationships)
V. Access Access Access
A. Choose food or healthcare, lack of health insurance, legal status, or transportation in addition to language barriers.
VI. A few other actionable items
A. Scholarships for certified language interpreter training and mentorship to get through it (recruit)
B. Scholarships for Spanish speakers that want to enter mental health fields, and others to pay for learning Spanish abroad
C. Get providers and CHWs out now for meet and greets (establish and cultivate relationships)
D. Actively recruit Spanish speakers from out of state and offer incentives for relocation as other places around the country are currently offering
E. Seriously look at running the numbers as to financial efficiency of funding more preventative care, instead of swallowing the higher costs of crisis care.
F. Much more…
Closing Statement:
1) Relationship-building is supreme in the Hispanic community
2) So, what can we do for the Hispanic community?
3) It’s simple. Let’s start by showing them we care. Relationships matter. Act on this now and get Latino leaders involved. They know the field much better.
Kommentare