Our emotional health affects how we feel, think, and deal with challenges and problems. Recent and ongoing events have caused high levels of stress and anxiety (citation).
Sometimes even the best support system is not enough to keep us feeling positive and we feel sad, hopeless, unimportant, and unable to cope with daily activities and stresses. This may be signs of depression. Depression is a big health risk among Latinos:
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Overall, the Latino community does not talk about mental illness.
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Some Latinos do not seek treatment because they don’t know the signs and symptoms of mental illness or know where to find help. And there is little information about this topic.
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Some Latinos do not seek treatment for fear of being labeled as “locos” (crazy) or as having a mental illness because this may cause shame. (Citation)
Screening yourself and loved ones to see if you’re at risk for depression and anxiety is the first step to getting help and feeling better.
References
Office of Minority Health. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2020.
Latinx/Hispanic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2020.
Office of Minority Health. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2020.
Latinx/Hispanic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2020.
Get checked each year for depression and anxiety (Reference: US Preventive Services Task Force). Talk to your doctor or complete this quick screening for depression- and anxiety-risk (citation). It can tell if you are at risk for depression and anxiety and is the first step to getting help and feeling better. While this screener is used to assess your risk for depression or anxiety, it does not diagnose either condition.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
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PHQ-4 total score ranges from 0 to 12, with categories of psychological distress being:
0-2
None
3-5
Mild
6-8
Moderate
9-12
Severe
It can be hard to find social services to help with your physical and emotional health. TakeAction is a social care network that connects people and programs – making it easy for you to find the social services you need in your community.
Here are some other resources:
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NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness: Call 800-950-6264 or visit NAMI online for support groups and information.
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County mental health department or a department of behavioral health: These organizations provide services and referrals to people of all ages to support their emotional health. Find programs in your county.
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Check with your health plan for referrals to licensed counselors as needed.
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Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are often offered by large employers. This program provides access to many services including in-person counseling sessions. Check with Human Resources at your work to learn more.
There are online support groups for people with depression and other emotional disorders.
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Visit www.dbsalliance.org and search “support groups” for options in your area.
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Mental Health America: This organization offers mental health support and recovery.
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