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Writer's pictureMaria Jacome Espinoza

Breaking the Silence

EXPLORING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE LATIN COMMUNITY, A CONVERSATION OUR ABUELOS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE


In 2023, F'inn conducted an in-depth quantitative study to better understand the complex factors contributing to increasing rates of mental health conditions and suicides among adolescents and adults in the U.S. In our research, we examine 152 stressors across 11 areas of life. The work provides valuable insights into the current mental health crisis, and for me personally, it sparked a deeper focus on the mental health of the Latin community in our country. As we reflect on Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrate the many contributions of the Hispanic / Latin community - which accounts for 19% of the U.S. population - we must also acknowledge how our multifaceted culture shapes our views and approaches to mental health.


 

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Familism, machismo, immigration, and racism, among other factors, significantly impact the mental health experiences of Latin people in the U.S. (Bido Medina et al., 2023). While each of us has unique experiences and perspectives, there are struggles we share that should be highlighted in order to foster mutual understanding and create positive change. In this article, I’ll focus on language and belonging.


I'M NOT FROM HERE, NOR AM I FROM THERE - NO SOY DE AQUI, NI SOY DE ALLA

As an Ecuadorian living in the U.S., I often feel a sense of fragmentation from my roots. I rarely speak Spanish now; most of my family is far away, and the close-knit community of friends I built in my formative years is scattered. Yet, at the same time, I feel a deep connection to other Spanish-speaking Latinos. Whether it’s in a hotel, on a plane, or at the grocery store, I often find myself having meaningful conversations with strangers, and building new networks in unexpected places. Speaking both English and Spanish has helped me bridge the gap between my heritage and the environment I now call home.

 

This personal experience comes to mind when thinking of the importance of social connection and social support and its crucial role in mental health - a shared language typically forms the foundation of these connections. According to our latest research on mental health 25% of Latinos in the U.S. are frequently or constantly stressed about feeling lonely or isolated, compared to 20% of non-Latinos. This feeling of isolation is even more pronounced among Latino men, with 26% reporting being frequently or constantly stressed by feelings of loneliness or isolation, compared to 17% of non-Latino men.

 

U.S.-born Latinos are another group impacted by stress around isolation, with 27% reporting they feel frequently or constantly stressed about being isolated. Research also highlights a noticeable distinction between U.S.-born and non-U.S.-born Latinos around their sense of inclusion.  Many U.S.-born Latinos experience a diluted connection to their identity. Even though they are citizens, they may not feel fully "American" (Flores-Gonzales, 2017). Flores-Gonzalez also notes that in the national imagination, being "American" is still linked to whiteness and European heritage, and physical traits such as skin color, phenotype, and surnames mark Latinos as non-white, further alienating them.


In response, many Latino families have adopted English-only households to help their children succeed in the U.S. and shield them from racism and discrimination. Despite numerous studies highlighting the cognitive benefits of bilingualism - such as improved focus, enhanced problem-solving, and interpersonal skills like increased empathy - many still hold the view, as noted by NBC’s Amanda Machado, that English fluency is essential, while speaking Spanish is unnecessary and even undesirable (Machado, 2019).

 

The belief that looking and sounding "white" leads to greater success persists, not only among Latinos but across other racial and ethnic minorities as well (Harpalani, 2002). As a result, a new generation of U.S.-born Latinos struggle to hold meaningful conversations in Spanish. According to CNN’s Catherine Shoichet, 57% of Latinos aged 18-49 feel ashamed of not speaking Spanish. This age group also experiences the highest stress about their loneliness, with 29% reporting frequently or constantly feeling stressed about their isolation. This disconnect from their culture’s language deepens their detachment from their cultural roots, often leading to a sense of rejection from both their American and Latino identities, which may play a role in their feelings of alienation.


HOW ARE WE COPING? A DIVINIS LEJOS DE LO DIVINO - FAR FROM THE DIVINE

God touching Adam's fingers
Creation of Adam

U.S. Latino adults reported feeling constant or frequent stress related to “love and belonging” more often than non-Latino adults (59% vs. 48%). A greater proportion of Latinos are also more likely to experience addiction (e.g., alcohol, drugs, etc.)  than non-Hispanics / Latinos (12% vs. 8%). All of this points to a broader sense of disconnect among the Latino community—the more we assimilate, the more we lose touch with our roots. But as a community, what are we doing to address this persistent feeling of isolation?

 

I wish I could say that mental health was openly discussed when I was growing up in Ecuador, but that wasn’t the case. Traditionally, deeply traumatic events are met with religious solutions or avoidance. Even family members who work in medicine can be quick to dismiss mental health symptoms as "only” stress, that can be “fixed” with prayer and distraction. While spirituality can help relieve everyday stress and provide tools like deep breathing and meditation, it often falls short in addressing serious mental health conditions or emergencies. According to our research, Latinos are less likely to receive treatment for a mental health condition than non-Hispanics / Latinos (48% vs. 34%).

 

Latinos who identify as religious tend to have stronger mental health, with only 12% rating their mental health as fair or poor. In contrast, 33% of Latinos who identify as spiritual and 26% of non-religious Latinos consider their mental health to be fair or poor. This suggests a link between religion and mental well-being, which is worth exploring further.


Today, 51% of Hispanic / Latino Christians identify as Catholic, reflecting the community’s historical deep roots in Catholicism, compared to only 26% of non-Hispanic / Latino Catholics. However, there has been a shift away from organized religion for Latinos in the U.S., driven by increasingly progressive views conflicting with church values, less parental involvement in attending mass, and fewer parents encouraging children to participate in sacraments, among others (Navarro-Rivera, 2023). In 2023, a higher percentage of Latino adults identified as non-religious compared to non-Hispanics / Latinos (35% vs. 29%). Furthermore, only 8% of Hispanics / Latinos aged 18–49 use prayer and religious practices to manage their mental health, while 26% of those aged 50 and older turn to religion for mental wellness.

 

As younger generations move away from organized religion, there seems to be a growing gap in our approach to mental health, with fewer culturally relevant resources available to address the community's needs.  We need to find alternative outlets that meet our unique needs and support the mental health of our community.


WHAT WE CAN DO: ACTIONABLE STEPS TO FINDING SUPPORT IN AND OUTSIDE OF MI GENTE LATINO - MY LATIN COMMUNITY

J Lo with award, says "Mi Gente Latino"

Both Latinos and non-Latinos don’t talk enough about mental health, which leads to stigma around the topic and prevents many people from seeking the help they need.  The Hispanic / Latino community is no stranger to the loneliness epidemic we’re facing in this country. While we are often portrayed as lively and vibrant in the media, we are much more than these stereotypes.

 

In our report, we provide broad recommendations using an ecological framework, a theoretical model often used in public health to understand how individuals interact with their environments and how multiple levels of influence shape behavior and development. Based on our research and my personal experiences, I’ve outlined a set of recommendations for how we can begin to improve the mental health of the Latino community at the Individual, Interpersonal, and Societal levels.


INDIVIDUAL LEVEL

  • Try not to be ashamed of your accent, whether in Spanish or English. As hard as it may be to believe, people generally don’t care as much as you think. Most will appreciate your effort to communicate.

  • Embrace your diversity. Try not to feel ashamed of how you look or speak—our uniqueness is our strength.

  • Share your culture with non-Latino Americans. Celebrate your heritage with others helps to create connections and foster understanding.

  • Be open and respectful when interacting with others. Don’t hesitate to ask how someone prefers to be addressed (Latino, Hispanic, Latine, Latinx). This creates a welcoming environment.

  • If possible, maintain a bilingual or multilingual household. Research shows that speaking multiple languages at home can improve focus, enhance problem-solving skills, increase empathy, and even delay the onset of dementia (insert citation).


INTERPERSONAL LEVEL

  • Be patient and kind with those who struggle with language, even if it takes longer to communicate.

  • Set aside time to connect with family and friends, even if you speak different languages—love brings people together.

  • Work to remove the stigma around mental health conversations and be open to listening to newer generations without judgment.


SOCIETAL LEVEL

  • Advocate for laws and policies that protect people’s right to speak the language they are most comfortable with, creating a more inclusive environment.

  • Challenge social norms to help Latino men break free from the pervasive influence of machismo culture and foster the normalization of seeking mental health assistance.


You can download the full report by clicking the link below.

button to click here

 

Author’s Notes

1) At F’inn, we acknowledge that racial and ethnic classification methods in surveys often treat distinct groups as monoliths, overlooking the diversity within them. In this article, we have grouped non-Hispanic/Latino racial groups together solely to highlight the Hispanic/Latino experience. We also recognize the fluidity and diversity within the Hispanic/Latino community itself, understanding that we are not all the same and that our experiences are as varied as the individuals within the group.

2) As the author of this article, I use the term “Hispanic”, "Latino" or “Latin”, but I fully acknowledge that others may prefer "Latine" or "Latinx" as more inclusive terms, particularly for non-binary and non-heteronormative identities. My intention is not to exclude anyone, and I aim to be respectful of all expressions of identity.


Bibliography

American Psychological Association. (2019, May). The psychological toll of social isolation. APA Monitor on Psychology. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation

BBC News. (2012, August 2). Bilingualism can delay Alzheimer's, study finds. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-19109883

Dewaele, J. (2012). Bilingualism and cognitive development. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14790718.2012.714380

Bido Medina, R., Espí Forcén, F., Hermina Pérez, J., Herrera Santos, L., Morfín Rodríguez, A., Vélez Flórez, M. C., & Zambrano, J. (2023). Deconstructing cultural aspects of mental health care in Hispanic/Latinx people. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10540642/

familism. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familism

Flores-González, N. (2017). Citizens but not Americans: Race and belonging among Latino millennials. New York University Press.

Fordham, S., & Ogbu, J. U. (1986). Black students' school success: Coping with the "burden of 'acting White”. The Urban Review, 18(3), 176-206.

Harpalani, V. (2002) What does "acting White" really mean? Racial identity formation and academic achievement among Black youth. Penn GSE Perspectives on Urban Education. https://urbanedjournal.gse.upenn.edu/archive/volume-1-issue-1-spring-2002/what-does-acting-white-really-mean-racial-identity-formation-an

Hispanic Research Center. (n.d.). One in four children nationwide are Latino, with 6-to-12-year-olds making up nearly 40 percent of Latino children. https://www.hispanicresearchcenter.org/research-resources/one-in-four-children-nationwide-are-latino-with-6-to-12-year-olds-making-up-nearly-40-percent-of-latino-children/

Language Magazine. (2019, February 16). Bilingual babies focus better. https://www.languagemagazine.com/2019/02/16/bilingual-babies-focus-better/

Machado, A. (2019, March 28). How the U.S. taught me Spanish was shameful. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/how-u-s-taught-me-spanish-was-shameful-ncna986746

machismo. (2024). In Merriam-Webster Dictionaryhttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machismo

McLean Hospital. (n.d.). Spirituality and mental health. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/spirituality

Nacamulli, M. (2017, February 27). Bilingualism and the brain [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMmOLN5zBLY

Navarro-Rivera, J. (2023, June 16) Why are Latinxs Leaving Religion, Particularly Catholicism? Interfaith America. https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/latinxs-religion-catholicism/

Pew Research Center. (2017, December 20). Hispanic identity fades across generations as immigrant

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