What keeps the Chicanx & Latinx communities from addressing mental health?

Traditionally, mental health has not been openly talked about in the Chicanx/Latinx community. When mental health is discussed, there is significant stigma surrounding it. You may have heard parents, aunts, uncles, abuelitos, or other members of your community be dismissive of mental health issues (“Todo está en tu cabeza”; No se lava la ropa en casa ajena"; “De eso no se habla en la mesa”) and regard treatment as only for "crazy people". You are expected to be strong and push through challenges like others before you have done. Thus, even bringing up issues about mental health can feel taboo, scary, or shameful.

Overall the Chicanx/Latinx community tends to have less knowledge about the underlying causes of mental health concerns and the treatments that can be effective in addressing such concerns. The norm is to rely on family and faith for support rather than turning to health care professionals for help. And, because privacy is highly valued, if there is something wrong, you are taught it is best to keep it to yourself or within the family. Coupled with distrust in the health care system as well as real and significant financial barriers, those in the Chicanx/Latinx community who are struggling are less likely to seek treatment.

There are real and significant struggles for students within the Chicanx/Latinx community, including familial pressure to achieve and obligations to give back to and take care of family, acculturation differences (e.g., parents hold onto traditional values while their children adopt new ones) that cause inter-generational conflict, peer group dynamics that can further perpetuate pressures to appear strong, and inter-generational trauma due to racism, exclusion, and violence perpetuated against the Chicanx/Latinx community, among other concerns.

So how can we change the culture about mental health in the Chicanx/Latinx community? Check out some of these videos that can help to start the conversation and read the article below to learn more!

What's one of the best ways to build strength & resilience? Get connected!
Check out these culturally-based orgs on campus that can provide community and social support. 

The Chicanx/Latinx Cultural Resource Center (CLCRC) provides a culturally enriched environment where students, faculty, and staff of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds can learn about a diverse culture. Their objective is to educate and unify the UCSB and Chicanx/Latinx community through the mediums of art, language, people, food, and traditions. At the Chicanx/Latinx Cultural Resource Center (located in the SRB) and El Centro Arnulfo Casillas (Building #406), the UCSB community can develop an understanding and appreciation of Chicanx/Latinx cultural heritage and history. Below are some of the orgs associated with CLCRC:
  • Association of Latino Professionals
  • Chicanx/Latinx Grad
  • Cultura Arts de El Congreso
  • El Congreso
  • De Colores
  • Destino
  • Gamma Zeta Alpha
  • Hermanas Unidas Inc.
  • Hispanic and Minority Students in Medicine
  • Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success (IDEAS)
  • La Escuelita
  • Lambda Sigma Gamma
  • Lambda Theta Alpha
  • Lambda Theta Nu
  • Latino Business Association
  • Los Curanderos
  • Los Ingenieros
  • Mujeres Unidas por Justicia, Educacion y Revolucion (M.U.J.E.R.)
  • Phi Lambda Rho
  • Radio Xicana
  • Sigma Lambda Beta
  • Sigma Lambda Gamma
  • Union Salvadorena de Estudiantes Universitarios
  • V.O.C.E.R.O.S.

 Take a few minutes and click through our Peer designed presentation on "Starting the Conversation on Mental Health in the Chicanx/Latinx Community"

You can also listen along as our Mental Health Peers read the presentation aloud to you!