Supporting Latine Mental Health
This page is regularly updated with new resources and information.
The Latine community is very diverse and includes people from several different nations. The word typically refers to individuals from Spanish-speaking countries, especially those of Latin America. Furthermore, while the Latine community may share a language and various attributes, it is important to acknowledge that these similarities cannot be reduced to any single trait or experience.
Within the United States, only 35.1% of Latine adults with mental illness receive treatment each year compared to the national average of 46.2%. This disparity is most likely due to several intimidating barriers such as language, cultural normalities, accessibility, legal status, religion, trauma, generational conflicts, and stigma. These challenges often prevent members of the community from pursuing help which forces them to suffer in silence. According to research, Latine adults and youth are more susceptible to mental distress relating to immigration and acculturation. Additionally, a shortage of bilingual or Spanish-speaking healthcare professionals continues to hinder Latines from receiving adequate mental health care. Bilingual patients are evaluated differently in Spanish than they are in English. Lastly, Latine patients are treated less often than white patients are, further illustrating the systemic barriers working against them. It is important for members of the community to know that they are not alone.
The list below contains a variety of mental health resources for the Latine community. For more information on culturally competent care, visit NAMI’s page about the Hispanic community and mental health care.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Mental Health America: Latinx/Hispanic Community (En español)
Mental Health America provides an overview of data about the mental health of the Lantinx/Hispanic community. MHA also has helpful resources for access to culturally competent care to appropriately serve the community.
American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry
The American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry’s mission is to promote research, education, and clinical practice through a network of Hispanic mental health professionals.
Therapy For Latinx
Therapy For Latinx matches individuals with a Latine therapist to help the community heal, thrive, and become advocates for their own mental health.
Latinx Therapy
Latinx Therapy seeks to destigmatize mental health within the community through pairing individuals with culturally appropriate sliding scale therapy.
Psychology Today
Psychology Today makes it easy for you to specify whether or not you’d like a Latine mental health professional.
National Alliance for Hispanic Health (En español)
The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is an organization that helps connect over 15 million Hispanic people per year in the United States to mental health services.
Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement (En español)
Familia: TQLM’s mission is to achieve collective liberation of trans, queer, and gender nonbinary Latinx individuals on a local and national level through building community, organizing, advocacy, and education.
Somos Familia (En español)
Somos Familia’s mission is to build leadership in Latine families and communities to create a culture where people of diverse genders and sexual orientations can thrive.
League of United Latin American Citizens
LULAC aims to reach Latine people across the United States and Puerto Rico to address health disparities in their communities through making education and resources more accessible.
United States Department of Health: Office of Minority Health (En español)
The Office of Minority Health provides up to date data on the mental health of the Latine community within the United States.
Voces Latinas
Voces Latinas’s mission aims to reduce the rate of HIV transmission and violence among immigrant Latines by empowering, educating, and providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services.
The Mental Health and Addiction Services Administration- Línea PAS
ASSMCA’s Línea PAS provides Puerto Rico with cost effective, high quality mental health care.
Her Migrant Hub
Her Migrant Hub helps New Yorkers seek and receive care without fear of discrimination based on immigration status, age, gender, income, or sexual orientation.
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