Mental health is one of the most important issue in all of healthcare. Anxiety and depression are just two of the more common mental health issues that affect millions of people. In recent years, Latino mental health has become an issue focused on my health agencies across the country. A new study has found that certain policies may be exacerbating Latino mental health concerns American Latinos living in states with more “exclusionary” immigration policies report higher rates of “psychological distress” than those living in states with more liberal immigration laws. “Obviously, not all immigrants are Latinos, nor are all Latinos immigrants,” said a research team led by Mark Hatzenbuehler of Columbia University in the journal Social Science and Medicine. In order to ...
According to a 2015 report published by the William T. Grant Foundation, 1 in 3 Latino kids live in poverty vs. 1 in 7 non-Latino white kids and 1 in 7 Asian children. Such differences are believed to be a central issue which compounds disparities in mental health. The report goes on to list 4 primary issues at the root of inequality in mental health including: Pervasive differences in family Socio-Econoimic Status;
Adverse childhood experiences;
Family structure; and
Neighborhood-level Factors Read more about mental health and Latino ...
Conversations about mental health can often be difficult to have. Many Latino teens and their families avoid the topic altogether. Why should you talk openly open mental health? Latino kids are often affected by issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicide at higher rates than non-Latinos. About 1 in 7 Latina teens attempt suicide. This Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, use #SaludTues to take a stand for Latino kids and tweet solutions to tackle the top issues affecting their mental health. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How to Address Challenges in Mental Health Care for Latino Kids”
TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST Tuesday, December 20, 2016
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludToday
COHOSTS: The American Psychological Association's (APA) Public Interest ...
On Dec 9,10 2016 Melody Cisneros Milstead will offer the first of many Faith Leader Mental Health First Aid training sessions. This groundbreaking 8-hour training course will kick-off at Centro Cristiano Familiar in Penitas,TX a city part of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). The course is aimed at giving people tools to identify when someone might be struggling with a mental health or substance use problem and to connect them with appropriate support and resources when necessary. 1 in 5 Americans has a mental illness, but many are reluctant to seek help or might not know where to turn for care. Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance use problems can be difficult to detect. For friends and family members, it can be hard to know when and how to step in. As a ...
Medicare provides health coverage for most Americans when they reach age 65 or have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months. Medicare also currently covers a portion of the health care costs of over 55 million Americans, including almost 4.1 million Latinos. New rules passed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will now add even more support to Latinos seeking primary and mental healthcare services, Healthcare Dive reports. CMS recently finalized the 2017 Physician Fee Schedule final rule which recognizes the importance of primary care by allowing for improved payment for chronic care management and behavioral health. The new final rule is part of a broad strategy to create a healthcare system that offers “better care, smarter spending, ...
Mental health inequities are a key problem that many Latinos face in their overall health care. In California (38.18% Latino population), steps have been taken to help alleviate some of these problems with the passing of a new law that will take effect on January 1, 2017. In past years, many health centers in rural parts of the state were unable to bill Medi-Cal, the government health program for low-income Californians, for services; the new law reverses that decision. Without proper treatment, mental health conditions can worsen and make day-to-day life hard. Latinos are less likely to seek mental health treatment. A 2001 Surgeon General’s report found that only 20% of Latinos with symptoms of a psychological disorder talk to a doctor about their concerns. Only 10% contact a mental ...
Across the nation, 17% of college students were diagnosed with or treated for anxiety problems during the 2015-2016 calendar year, The Wall Street Journal reports. Of this group, nearly 14% were diagnosed or treated for depression. This number is up significantly from a 2011 survey by the American College Health Association and counselors on campus are reporting seeing more “serious illnesses.” There is also a rise in the number of students who are enrolling with pre-existing psychiatric histories. The reason for this unprecedented surge is unclear. Therapists and college counselors have speculated that factors ranging from the economy and rising tuition rates to the impact of social media have led to the current rise in mental health issues. “Students are overwhelmed with ...
Access to and treatment for mental health issues is has long been a problem for many Latinos. According to a recent study, one in five Americans is believed to have a mental health condition at any given time. However, Latinos receive a lot less psychiatric care overall, including visits to psychiatrists, social workers, and psychologists. In an effort to combat the growing trend of a lack of access, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has awarded more than $44 million to increase the number of mental health providers and substance abuse counselors across the country. A recent announcement from HHS touted that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) would be funding 144 ...
When it comes to mental health issues, many Latinos are plagued by a lack of access and the thought of cultural stigma and rarely seek assistance for issues such as depression. This can lead to isolation and further health problems, especially in the heavily Latino populated Sonoma County, Calif. (26% Latino population), The Press Democrat reports. At Sonoma State University, Francisco Vázquez a professor and president of the board of directors of the nonprofit Latino Service Providers-Sonoma County, believes he has found a way to bridge the cultural gap preventing Latinos from seeking help. Vázquez is behind a $1.18 million grant project aimed at identifying cultural practices that lead to improved mental and behavioral health. These practices include traditional healing arts, ...
