With the commencement of Hispanic Heritage Month across the country, we honor and recognize the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latine/x Americans in a variety of ways. This may be a time of reflection and conversation to empower and celebrate Latine/x communities, including having discussions surrounding mental health. To better understand Latine/x mental health needs, we must consider the way culture influences mental health within the community.
Latinx/e communities encompass a variety of customs and traditions that make up their vibrant cultures. Culture includes a collection of language, customs, values, practices, expected behaviors, communication styles, religion/spirituality, food, arts, history, politics, and technology. Culture shapes our perceptions, behaviors, and ways of interacting with others and the world around us. Although each subgroup within the Latinx/e community is unique and complex in its own way, culture plays a great influence on our mental health and its treatment.
With consideration of the historical and systemic trauma that our Latine communities face, we must also consider how normalized behaviors, perceptions, and intergenerational cycles play a role in discussing, identifying, and receiving treatment for mental health symptoms. While we may embrace our cultural strengths and resilience, we must also challenge the stigma or cultural norms that prevent us from receiving the healing we are deserving of as a community. For example, some experiences that become a part of Latine cultures include parentification, emotional suppression, “machismo”, and violations of personal boundaries. These cultural experiences may lead to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, irritability, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, and difficulty with relationships and attachment with others.
By considering how one’s culture may be affecting their mental health, we can begin to address these experiences and their related symptoms. One way to begin the journey to mental health support is finding a mental health professional that prioritizes cultural humility, has professional experience working with diverse populations, or is from a similar cultural background as you. If you are interested in starting this process with one of our clinicians, reach out to schedule a free consultation.
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