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The rate of mental disorders among Hispanic Americans living in the community is similar to that of non-Hispanic white Americans. However, due to barriers such as poverty, acculturation, cultural and language issues, transportation issues and other barriers, Latinos suffer greatly from mental health disparity issues in the United States (U.S. Surgeon General, 2001).
For example, the Center for Disease Control reports that Latino teens have the highest suicide ideation and attempt rates than any other racial/ethnic teen group. Dr. Margarita Alegria’s (2005) mental health research at the Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research at Cambridge Health Alliance, part of Harvard University, found some of the following trends in Latinos.
•The longer a Latino lives in US, the more likely they will suffer from mental health problems. Latinos arrive pretty resilient, but the longer they stay, the more likely will suffer from mental illness.
•Geography also plays a role. Latinos living in areas like the Midwest like in Ohio where there are not large number of Latinos like in California, New Jersey, New York, Texas are more likely to suffer from mental health problems. The group serves as a buffer for stress.
•Weather in Ohio – lack of sunlight, cold weather can negatively affect Latinos since they come from countries with generally good sunny weather. Can contribute to depressive disorders like Seasonal Affective Disorder.
In 2005, the National Council of La RAZA released a report on mental health problems among Latinos which stated that Latinos suffer from Depression, Immigration/Acculturation issues, Chemical Use & Dependency, Suicidality, and Domestic Violence issues. The same year,
the Center for Disease Control also found in their study on adolescent health risk behaviors that Latino/a youth were more likely to have suicidal ideation and make attempts (11.3%) compared to African American (7.6) and Caucasian (7.3%) youth.
Below are some of their major findings on Latino teens:
•One in seven Latina girls seriously consider attempting suicide.
•Latino/a Adolescents are more likely to use methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, smoke cigarettes and marijuana.
•Latino teens are more likely to carry a gun/weapon than any other racial group.
•Latino teens are more likely to get in cars with driver who has been drinking alcohol.
•42.3% of Latino teens do not use condoms when having sex.
Hispanic elderly are also are at risk
One study found over 26% of its sample were
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