In the United States, Latinx are 33% less likely to receive the appropriate mental health treatment when compared to other ethnic groups and lack of access to care can further exacerbate mental health conditions (National Alliance on Mental Health, 2020). A good understanding of institutional and systemic barriers faced by the Latinx community can shed light to the underutilization of mental health services. A systematic literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of barriers that contribute to underutilization of mental health services among Latinx communities. A number of databases, including PubMed and PsychInfo were used to search for published literature on the topic. The research terms used were the following: "Latinos," "Hispanic," "Mexican American," "mental health treatment," "counseling," and "mental health access." The inclusion criteria comprised articles that were peer-reviewed studies that pertained to barriers to accessing mental health services faced by the Latinx community in the United States. The articles were further narrowed down by the year they were published, and articles published before 1999 were not included in the review. The exclusion criteria consisted of studies conducted outside of the United States and did not mention mental health access. A total of 23 articles were included in this literature review. Results from the study identified three major themes: Socioeconomic Status, Cultural Factors, and Language. In addition, several sub themes were identified and placed under the umbrella of the three major themes, including insurance coverage and cost, immigration status, stigma, lack of English proficiency in the Latinx community, lack of Spanish speaking therapists, and limited translators. The results from this study suggest a need for social support, policies directed to increasing funding and accessibility to mental health care, provision of culturally- sensitive mental health programs for the Latinx community and highlights an urgent call to action from the public health sector to conduct more outreach programs that would ensure availability, adequate provision, and sustainability of mental health services to Latinx communities.

Despite similar vulnerability to mental illness as the general population, adults within the Latinx community often do not receive treatment for severe mental illnesses. Latinx communities face health disparities and lack of access to mental healthcare due to language barriers, lack of health insurance coverage, lack of cultural competence from healthcare practitioners, and more. It is essential to promote positive mental health practices within the Latinx community and to educate healthcare practitioners in cultural competence. Latinx Mental Health: From Surviving to Thriving focuses on the research and practical experiences that foster cultural resilience and strength. Rather than advocating for an assimilative model of coping, this book focuses on the way that Latinx issues can be studied and addressed in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way. This publication seeks to inspire a new generation of mental health researchers and practitioners to engage with the Latinx population in a strength-based way. Covering topics such as LGBTQ+ Latinxs, health disparities, and intergenerational trauma, this premier reference work is an excellent resource for psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, sociologists, government officials, healthcare professionals, students and faculty of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

Latinos are the fastest growing and largest minority group in the United States. In 2008, this group numbered over 47 million; by 2050, the population is expected to triple, reaching 133 million. Traditionally, Latinos have immigrated to large urban centers (e.g., New York, Los Angeles) that over long periods of time developed a complex infrastructure to receive new immigrants. Increasingly, new Spanish-speaking immigrants are moving into areas of the country previously unfamiliar to them. Although urban co-ethnic communities continue to be the destination of many newcomers, immigrants from Mexico, Central America, and South America in pursuit of low-skilled labor opportunities are settling in small towns and rural areas of the South and Midwest. This new demographic trend has resulted in the creation of the term "new growth communities," which refers to small rural areas that are now home to a small but rapidly growing Hispanic population. Unfortunately, these communities, which are now present in many states across the country (e.g., Illinois, North Carolina), lack the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of Latino immigrants (e.g., access to health care, immigration assistance, and breaking down language barriers). The lack of an infrastructure and the lack of an established ethnic community to facilitate the assimilation of new immigrants present an ongoing challenge, especially in the area of Latino mental health. The volume focuses on dealing with systemic issues and on providing innovative ideas for development of infrastructure of services. This text will advance ways to understand and ameliorate mental health disparities both from research and experiential perspectives.

This book is the first authoritative medical text that considers the unique cultural backgrounds of Hispanic populations in a straightforward yet sensitive way, all while building a framework for practical psychiatric assessment and treatment plans. As the only book to consider the unique challenges facing Hispanic mental healthcare, this book is at the forefront of a serious issue that has gone unchallenged for too long. The text is written by two expert psychiatrists with an established history of leadership in this space. Chapters carefully and meticulously establish the issues of access to care in Latinx communities before addressing the unique needs of these patients in the context of common psychiatric disorders. Each disorder includes clinical cases for a reader-friendly approach to the challenges that develop effective assessment and treatment plans. Mental Health for Hispanic Communities is a concise yet comprehensive reference invaluable to all clinicians, students, and other medical professionals seeking to work with this population effectively.

Community Mental Health Engagement with Racially Diverse Populations summarizes research on reducing mental health disparities in underserved populations through community engagement programs. It discusses the efficacy of such programs with specific populations of people of color and cultures, for specific disorders, and via specific communities. It identifies how and why community engagement works with these populations, how best to set up new community programs, the steps and stakeholders to success, and includes case studies showing successes and the challenges involved. Identifies how and why these programs achieve success through patient engagement Explores efficacy with specific ethnicities and cultures Discusses efficacy of programs through schools, churches, non-profits, and more Includes case studies with their successes and challenges Provides guidelines on the development and implementation of community programs

The study aims to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Latino’s access to mental health services. The qualitative exploratory study outreach was completed among social media platforms, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions across eastern, central, and western Washington areas. A total of 8 Latino identifying adults that were in the process of receiving mental health services, or, currently utilizing mental health services during COVID-19 were interviewed. The interviewees acknowledged their understanding of the mental health system. To acknowledge their understanding semi-structured interviews were conducted. These involved the use of visual images and questions around what may exist at individual and institutional levels while navigating mental health services. Participants were able to supply recommendations on how they would like to see the mental health system improved. Major findings suggested that barriers are elevated when accessing services on a multitude of levels: macro, mezzo, and micro. Findings confirmed that telehealth mental services in the United States are not readily accessible for the Latino community. Participants recommended institutional, community, and accessibility changes.