Deconstructing Mental Health Stigma in Latinx Culture
Illustration by Michelle Marshall
Many communities face issues that barricade them from seeking out mental health advice. The mix of socioeconomic and cultural factors have conspired with one another in order to stigmatize people suffering from mental illnesses. The Latinx community has been notoriously good at upkeeping the mental health “taboo.” Many of them view mental illness as a sign of weakness and carry the underlying fear of being labeled as “loco,” Spanish for “crazy.” Our culture’s pressure is due to things like the reliance on faith versus therapy, machismo & marianismo, and an overall lack of understanding of counseling benefits. Financial and language barriers also result in many seeing therapy as something “for white people” and as a “waste of money.”
Cost is one of the greatest prohibitive factors when it comes to why more Latinx people don’t reach out for mental health guidance. In the United States, the percentage of Latinx people without health insurance ranges from 32% to 37% (in comparison with the 16% for all Americans), and whilst there are some mental health practitioners offering discounted therapy, most Latinx people do not see counseling as an area that finances should be poured into, considering wage disparities amongst races.
Religion may also discourage Latinx individuals from seeking treatment for mental health issues. Positive religious coping allows one to find meaning and comfort in God. However, repercussions of religious coping may lead one to believing that their mental illness is caused by a lack of faith, or that their problems can be cured by a prayer, discouraging them from looking for help. There are instances in which Latinx communities ostracize individuals suffering from mental disorders because they see them as wrong doers facing punishment through divine justice. Latinx people rely greatly on faith for personal guidance and growth, and I believe that as long as religion does not hinder one’s ability to be themselves, there is no reason why faith cannot play a role in someone’s mental health recovery. In fact, counseling services like Better Help now offer faith-based sessions, combining spirituality and faith into their traditional therapeutic process. Faith-based intervention is a critical target for mental health competency and stigma reduction.
Traditional gender roles further elicit mental health stigma in Hispanic culture. Machismo is a deeply embedded cultural ideology that perpetuates toxic masculinity and the belief that respect should be handed to men through the submission of their female counterpart. Boys are taught to suppress their feelings, and anything that isn’t perceived as hyper masculine is a threat to their manhood. Machismo’s harmful nature can prevent one from experiencing their full range of emotions without any kind of backlash. Whilst this kind of toxic masculinity is not exclusive to race or ethnicity, the notion of being hyper masculine is heavily reinforced in the Latino culture. It’s counterpart, Marianismo––rooted in Catholicism’s admiration of the Virgin Mary––is the thought that women must be submissive, chaste, pious, self-sacrificing and nurturing. We’re taught to look up to her, and in some sense, act like her.
In a study done by Andrea T. Jezzini, research showed that marianismo is the one leading predictors of depression in Latina women. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with women who choose to live their life embodying these attributes, but there is something wrong with an idea that inhibits young women from knowing that they can be and do things outside of these beliefs. The endorsement of both marianismo and machismo are not exclusive to their respective genders, because they both internalize patriarchal values. Women are expected to show their respect for male authority and be submissive, nurturing figures, whilst men are always expected to personify manhood and lead in paternalism. Latinx are met with the pressure to live up to these cultural standards, which can lead to the development of mental health issues. Luckily, some of us aren’t raised in environments that espouse these ideas. In summation, marianismo and machismo are intertwined constructs that set forth socially acceptable behaviours that uphold traditional gender roles. It’s important that we grasp an understanding of how both can jeopardize one’s mental and physical health development.
In the Latinx population, familismo––the high importance placed on family––is an important value to individuals, and they heavily turn to their families when looking to satisfy their social and emotional needs. In a study carried out by Susan Caplan, it was found that most Hispanic families would deny the presence of a mental health condition in themselves or another family member, unless they were not able to physically cope with the symptoms. Family dynamics don’t tend to lend themselves to conversations surrounding mental health. Individuals might discourage others from seeking treatment due to their own lack of education or their spiritual beliefs. In fact, some families might refuse to talk about or even acknowledge that mental illness is present. Before Latinx people are able to change that dynamic, those suffering from mental health issues must find a safe space in order to tackle their realities.
I think it’s about time that we shift our collective mentality from the belief that seeking mental health assistance makes us weak and loco––as so many of us grew up thinking. Cultural competence enables mental health professionals and ourselves to recognize the influences that affect one’s mental health. By identifying the socioeconomic and cultural barriers in our way, we are slowly beginning to understand that all of us have the power to reach out for help, and that there’s nothing to be ashamed about.
Sources
Blossom, Priscilla. “We Need To Talk About Marianismo.” Hip Latina, 13 Mar. 2018.
Buccino, Neal. “Mental Health Stigma, Fueled by Religious Belief, May Prevent Many Latinos from Seeking Help.” Rutgers University, 1 Apr. 2019.
Caplan, Susan. “Intersection of Cultural and Religious Beliefs About Mental Health: Latinos in the Faith-Based Setting.” Hispanic Health Care International, vol. 17, no. 1, 2019, pp. 4–10.
Dichoso, Sheila. “Stigma Haunts Mentally Ill Latinos.” CNN, Cable News Network, 15 Nov. 2010.
“Mental Health Stigma in Latin America: Culture, Resources, and More.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.