The Latinx community is the fastest-growing minority group in the United States and the fastest-growing group in Chicago. The prevalence of mental health disorders among Latinx, however, is higher than among other racial or ethnic groups in the United States, according to findings from a survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Latinx parents may experience stress from having more mouths to feed and less money to go around due to frequent job losses, other financial burdens, poor healthcare access, and limited social services.
Latinx Talk Therapy is here to help the Latinx community achieve their wellness and mental objectives by providing expert therapy techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy. Contact us online or call (312) 620-7551 to learn more about our services and how we can help.
The Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders Among Latinx Parents
Mental health disorders affect up to 20% of the U.S. population, but over 37% of Latinx parents have experienced a mental health disorder. A study from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) shows that many Latinx parents do not seek treatment for their mental health issues due to stigma, lack of awareness, and other barriers. Some of these mental health issues are:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance Use Disorder
- PTSD
Doctors need to be aware that Latinx individuals with mental health illnesses may have different symptoms or present them differently than non-Hispanics with similar conditions. It’s important that they know how to recognize these symptoms to make appropriate diagnoses and referrals for treatment.
Mental health disorders in parents can lead to lifelong effects on their children, including an increased risk for negative mental and physical health outcomes. These risks are genetically and biologically influenced as well as environmentally determined.
The Factors That Contribute to the High Rates of Mental Health Disorders Among Latinx Parents
Many Latinos are in precarious social situations. Anti-immigrant policies, poverty, and the inequities that follow them can negatively affect the Latinx community’s mental health. For example, many Latinos suffer from depression or anxiety because of poverty and poor living conditions – since they are often not given the means to provide a better life for themselves or their families – or simply because of how they’ve been discriminated against.
Anti-immigrant policies, particularly those proposed and enforced in the Southwest region of the United States, immigrant populations’ worries and stresses, potentially affecting the Latinx community’s mental health and general well-being. It is important to note that access to mental health care is difficult for racial and ethnic minorities, leading to an alarming disparity between people of different cultures.
Only 6% of licensed psychologists in the US can provide mental health services in Spanish, and only 61% of Latinx adults in the US speak English, resulting in a mismatch between the need for and access to linguistically appropriate mental health care. In addition, Latinos in the United States have limited access to culturally responsive services that reflect an understanding of their cultural norms, immigration, trauma, and acculturation experiences.
Latinx Mental Health Therapy in Chicago
Inspired by those who seek help in order to grow and empower themselves, we offer support and guidance. As a bilingual Chicago talk therapy center, we specialize in providing both one-on-one and couples counseling for those who suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues. We also offer informational talks to patients wanting to learn more about the benefits of these treatments.
You deserve better – take the first step toward mental health and wellness today. Contact us online or call (312) 620-7551 to learn more.