preview

Latin Women's Mental Health

Better Essays
Open Document

The Influence of Poverty and Tradition on Latin Women’s Mental Health Latina women are faced with countless adversities as a result of their socioeconomic conditions and are forced to endure the illnesses that are incurred. Mental illnesses in particular are being kept in silence within the Latino community as it is frowned upon to discuss one’s problems with others. This is due to a deeply rooted tradition where privacy is honored, any form complications are sacred, and these are all kept within one’s household. The stigma behind mental health and seeking treatment is so stigmatized that many do not seek help or even a diagnosis. Remedying this stigma would involve constant education of mental illness and providing knowledge on resources …show more content…

Regardless of these obligations, these women are taught to not speak about their issues and do not seek out the necessary help out of tradition. Thus, their mental health suffers as a result of being denied and/or being ignorant to the public services available to them. Low-income, Latina women are face with countless obstacles. These obstacles include lack of education, inadequate housing, unsatisfactory income, childcare, marital issues, and social issues. It is noted, “…lifetime prevalence rates of affective disorders among Hispanic women, aged 45 to 64, were higher than black or white women… Hispanic women were the least likely to report symptoms…” (Gil, 1996, p. 151). This may be due to the vast difference in life experiences and circumstances faced by women of poverty. Thus, making them more susceptible to mental illnesses. “According to the U.S. 1994 Census, Hispanic women… are also less likely to be married and graduate from high school. They receive lower wages, have higher rates of unemployment, are more likely to be living below poverty levels, and are more likely to be the sole head of larger than average households” …show more content…

These mental health concerns are attributable to the long-standing tradition that Latina women should not speak about their problems to anyone, regardless of their relationship. Poverty coupled with a secret vow of silence make Latina women more susceptible to diagnosable mental diseases like depression and anxiety. Latina women who may possess a mental illness not only refuse to talk about it, they do not seek out proper treatment. In the Latino community, mental illness is either ignored or negatively sanctioned. It is almost taboo to discuss having any sort of mental illness since many consider it to be a phase or issue of a different nature. The stigma held against mental illness is so strong because it may affect their social standing. “Low income and less educated individuals are more likely to express concern about the reactions of friends and family if they got help for psychiatric problems” (Alvidrez, 1999, p. 517). Speaking about one’s problems is sanctioned enough with the Latino community; however, speaking to a stranger and potentially having an actual mental disease confirmed is far more insidious. It is considered to be an extreme violation of long standing traditions. According to Alvidrez’s (1999) study, “only 12 (6.6%) of women said that friends or family would be upset if they sought help for personal or emotional problems…in the belief that

Get Access