Latino youth are far more likely than their peers to have mental health issues. These often go unaddressed and untreated.
Why?
Immigration, poverty, bullying, and other family and social factors can stress Latino youth.
But there’s good news, too.
Programs are emerging to reduce family, school, and community stress. These can positively impact mental health among this population.
Promising policies, while few, also are emerging.
Key Research Findings
Latino childhood mental health. 22% of Latino youth have depressive symptoms. That is higher than any group besides Native American youth.
Latino childhood access to mental health services. Fewer Latino (8%) children than white children (14%) reported that their child had ever used mental health care services.
The migration experience. Latino families face tough finances and difficult travel before and during migration to the United States. Many Latino children are separated from parents. After migrating, they face language issues and discrimination.
Family issues. Parent-child roles affect Latino children’s levels of stress and depression.
Community and school issues. Discrimination, poverty, violence, and bullying affect Latino children’s depression and stress levels.
Programs with promise. Latino youth have less stress and more classroom success in interventions that mix regular exercise, sports participation, and mental health education. Community-based, cultural interventions have shown promise in improving access to mental health care.
Policies with promise. Policy is lacking on the mental health of Latino children. But new recommendations and models have shown early promise.
Conclusions
Policy Implications. Program leaders, school leaders, and healthcare providers should ensure that mental health care for Latino children is sensitive to issues among this group. These issues include bullying, discrimination, and other immigration-related factors.
Future Research Needs. Latino youth suffer disproportionately from mental health issues compared to their peers. But there is a lack of research on strategies to diagnose and treat mental health problems in this population.
Population of focus: Hispanic or Latino children
Links to resources:
- Mental Health & Latino Kids: A Research Review (pdf)
- Read the News Release (PDF)
- Read the Issue Brief (PDF)
- Explore success stories and find tools to take action!
Date: 2017
Organization: Salud America!