Opinion: Why Latinx Mental Health Can’t Wait in New York City

“While nearly 30 percent of New Yorkers identify as Latinx, language barriers, cultural stigma, and the absence of bilingual providers have prevented countless individuals from receiving the help they require. This is a crisis—but it’s also a call to action.”

At the center of a city that touts its diversity, one of its largest communities—the Latinx population—remains locked out of equitable mental health treatment.

While nearly 30 percent of New Yorkers identify as Latinx, language barriers, cultural stigma, and the absence of bilingual providers have prevented countless individuals from receiving the help they require. This is a crisis—but it’s also a call to action.

New York City must address these disparities by adopting a policy like the California Disparities Reducing Project(CDRP). It has been in place in California since 2009 and targets underserved and underrepresented communities. This project addresses disparities in a community-led framework, for the people and created by the people.

California Disparities Reduction Project addresses cultural stigmas, ensures access to culturally competent bilingual providers, and fosters trust within Latinx communities. This is the only way we can ensure Latinx New Yorkers will get the mental health care they deserve.  

Language barriers are one of the most significant obstacles that prevent Latinx individuals from access to mental health care. These individuals are scared of not getting their needs met, or not being understood. It is vital to have mental health care providers who speak the language and empathize with this community’s cultural values.

The lack of Latinx providers makes it difficult to access equitable and adequate care. Only 8 percent of the country’s psychologists are Latinx. CDRP addresses this by funding programs to ensure providers are bilingual, culturally competent, and able to create a welcoming and trusting environment. 

Cultural stigma is also an issue that prevents Latinx people from getting the mental health care that they need. Mental health care is still taboo in the Latinx community. A common saying in Latinx homes is “la ropa sucia se lava en casa” (the dirty laundry gets washed at home.) This mindset perpetuates the idea that mental health should be dealt with in private and not with the help of professionals; this is a highly damaging rhetoric.

CDRP can ensure these communities have role models and mentors to assure them that getting the help they need is vital. This will provide a safe space and gain the community’s trust. It is essential to break down the barriers and show that it’s okay to ask for help. Seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness, but a courageous step towards healing and building a stronger community.

Data shows that providers that are not culturally competent tend to misdiagnose Latinx patients. Latinx people need mental health care providers who are knowledgeable of their culture and their struggles as a community. CDRP promises to diversify the workforce so that mental health care providers can understand and collaborate with their patients. Adopting this model allows providers who might not be bilingual but are trained to address unique cultural needs and make Latinx people feel heard, seen, and supported.

Some argue that there are other priorities in the healthcare sector, such as Medicaid or Medicare. Yet the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that failure to treat mental illness costs the U.S. economy up to $193.2 billion annually, money that can be invested in another way. If we focus on treating mental health and eliminating these disparities, not only will it help the U.S. economy, but it will also improve the lives of many.

In a city celebrated for its diversity, how is it that one of its most prominent ethnic groups remains underserved in such a vital area? Contact your local elected officials, both city and statewide, to demand a program that will address the needs of the Latinx community, and serve as a blueprint for equity in other underserved communities.

Together, we can build a city that allows everyone access to the health care they deserve. 

Valentina Cuellar Laguna is a graduate student at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, pursuing a master of public administration with a specialization in international development. She’s currently working on initiatives to reduce mental health care disparities in NYC’s Latinx communities.