Latino Mental Health Case Study

Introduction

The United States is a country known for its rich diversity, where people have the chance to experience a culture outside of their typical customs. Many diverse people migrate to the United States searching for a better future and home than the one they previously experienced. The Latino population is estimated at 14 million or more than 37.6% of the nation’s population, Latinos constitute the single most significant racial or ethnic group in California and are increasingly shaping the demographic makeup of the state (Pew Hispanic Center, 2010). Non-white racial and ethnic groups now constitute more than one-third of the population in the United States (Humes, Jones, and Ramirez, 2011) and are projected to comprise 54% of the

Access to mental health care not only surrounds lack of transportation, cost, and location but also within agencies provided the necessary education and advocacy. The Surgeon General pointed to the disparities in access as a cause for concern (Snowden, Masland, Ma, & Ciemens, 2006, p. 235). Mental health agencies should consider the accessibility of mental health services that are available in Latino communities. Compared to urban areas, rural areas have less availability and accessibility of mental health specialist (Garcia, Gilchrist, Vasquez, Leite, & Raymond, 2011, p. 501). Mental health agencies need to provide outreach and mental health services for rural communities so that they are educated and aware of such services. For example, a lack of mental health providers who conduct outreach to minority communities to provide extended hours or offer lower fees may negatively impact the likelihood and feasibility of accessing mental health services for many families (Gudino et al., 2008, p. 140). Lack of transportation in rural Latino communities may pose a barrier for access to mental health services. Agencies need to evaluate and account for this disparity and consider that lack of transportation becomes a barrier to Latinos. In research conducted with older adults, a predominant theme concerned an absence of available, appropriate transportation services, which contributed to social isolation and

We should be mindful of this specific populations cultural beliefs and practices, avoid making assumptions, respect them to build trust especially with immigrant Latinos. There should also be culturally appropriate resources which are tailored to Latino Populations such as providing outreach services in rural communities that may have limited access to mental health services. From a universalistic point of view of health, fixing the source of this problem relies heavily on improving competency practices in health care culturally. Brach & Fraser’s strategies for cultural competency suggest that to reduce the disproportionate gap in mental health outcomes, we should provide appropriate recruitment and retention. Giving minority staff is essential because of their shared cultural beliefs and everyday language. This not only helps the language barrier that may be present but also creates a safer and welcoming environment for potentially reluctant Latinos and Immigrant Latinos access the mental health