Perceptions of mental health and utilization of mental health services in Puerto Rico (original) (raw)
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It was the year 2009, where all the anguish I had kept inside was coming out and it was directed at myself. Tired of the emotional pain I asked for helped and I was diagnosed as depressed, given a pill and was sent on my merry way. But the pill just made me feel worse and the therapy was doing nothing to me so I stopped taking the meds and finished the assigned therapy sessions. As years went by my emotional storm did not diminish, instead it became stronger and I had no way to controlled it, it came to the point where I thought my life would be this miserable forever. I went to other psychologist, but it ended the same with a label of Depression and a failed therapy. It was not until the end of 2014 where I got an answer as to why the treatment for depression wasn't helping me. I did not have depression I had Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). A disorder that causes unstable moods, behavior, and relationships, people who suffer from BPD are known to have problems regulating emotions and thoughts as well as display impulsive and reckless behavior (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], nd). It is because of my experience during the years after a misdiagnosis that I strive to find out more about the misdiagnosis of BPD and answer the question: How does a misdiagnosis of BPD affect myself as a mental health patient in Puerto Rico? I write this auto-ethnography with the motive to let the readers know that mental health is a serious illness and that according to a study Puerto Ricans are an especially vulnerable group, with an alarming prevalence of mental illness estimated in a 36%, the highest among the Latino communities (Alegria, et al. 2007). At the same time I want to help change the image people have of mental illness given that the media shows this illness as something that is trending and they present the actions one takes as the disorder and not an effect of the illness. And lastly the media uses triggering words and images to cause sensation and not to inform. These can me seen in a publication by the newspaper El Vocero (Orozco Velázquez, 2016). Throughout this writing I will be using a psychological framework modified to an anthropological use. This writing will be restricted to Puerto Rico in specific the metropolitan area, given that here is where all my sources live and work. At the same time, the writing will use me as its focus given that I am using the writing style of an autoethnography. Methodology and Theoretical Framework: This work took place in my house as well as my psychologist's office for around three months. During this time I had many chats with my collaborator Domingo, he gave me a perspective as a doctor and as someone that lives and associate with people that have
A critical review of epidemiological studies of Puerto Rican mental health
American Journal of Psychiatry, 1990
Through a review of the epidemiological literature on the mental health of Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics, to Rican mental health. It is a review of the epidemiological studies of Puerto Rican mental health on the mainland United States and in Puerto Rico, from the perspective of a growing literature in medical anthropology on cultural dimensions of illness experience
Mental health status among Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, and Non-Hispanic whites
American Journal of Community Psychology, 1992
Compared mental health characteristics of island Puerto Ricans to three groups from the Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study: Mexican American immigrants, U.S.-born Mexican Americans, and Non-Hispanic whites. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to obtain both diagnostic and symptom scale information about affective disorders, alcohol abuse/dependence, somatization, phobic disorder, and psychotic disorder. Mexican American immigrants had the fewest mental health problems of all groups. Puerto Ricans had more somatization disorder, but less affective and alcohol disorders than U.S-born Mexican Americans or non-Hispanic whites. Results are considered in the light of selection factors, relative disadvantage of groups and methodological problems.
Mental health service utilization among Puerto Rican children ages 4 through 16
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 1995
Rico, their demographic and psychosocial characteristics, and describes service providers and nature of facilities. The survey was done on a protYability sample of children ages 4 through 16 across the island of Puerto Rico (N = 777). Need for services was clinically defined as presence of a DSM-III diagnosis and functional impairment. The overall rate of service utilization for Puerto Rican children was 6% (26.2% of "definite cases" and 5.1% of "probable cases"). In most cases services were provided by psychologists and~or social workers, and they were mainly provided in schools and general medical facilities. In over 60% of the children assessed as cases, who did not receive services, the reason given by the parent was that they considered the problem not serious. Factors associated with service utilization were measures of psychopathology, teacher's perceived need, and parental rates of criticism and hostility. These findings suggest that there is a need for more research on the motivating factors for service use (impairment and parental criticism). Teachers could benefit from receiving special training to help them readily recognize behavioral problems in children, communicate them to parents and set up services alternatives.
Stigma toward mental illness in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review
2020
Objective: Stigma toward individuals with mental disorders has been studied extensively. In the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, the past decade has been marked by a significant increase in information on stigma toward mental illness, but these findings have yet to be applied to mental health services in Latin America. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of studies relating to stigma toward mental illness in Latin America and the Caribbean. The authors specifically considered differences in this region as compared with manifestations reported in Western European countries. Methods: A systematic search of scientific papers was conducted in the PubMed, MEDLINE, EBSCO, SciELO, LILACS, Imbiomed, and Bireme databases. The search included articles published from 2002 to 2014. Results: Twenty-six studies from seven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean were evaluated and arranged into the following categories: public stigma, consumer stigma, family stigma, and multiple stigmas. Conclusion: We identified some results similar to those reported in high-income settings. However, some noteworthy findings concerning public and family stigma differed from those reported in Western European countries. Interventions designed to reduce mental illness-related stigma in this region may benefit from considering cultural dynamics exhibited by the Latino population.
Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 2014
Depression and anxiety are of the most commonly occurring mental health disorders in the United States. Despite a variety of efficacious interventions for depression and anxiety, it is clear that ethnic minorities experience mental health care disparities in their access to mental health services and the quality of treatment they receive. Research indicates that Latino heterogeneity impacts access to depression and anxiety treatment. In addition, Brazilians are becoming an increasingly visible minority within the United States and are often depicted as Latinos. The current study sought to understand the role of acculturation and stigma in mental health symptom endorsement and treatment seeking among Puerto Ricans, immigrant Latinos, and Brazilians. A total of 250 self-identified Latinos and Brazilians were interviewed about their mental health symptom and treatment experience, acculturation, and stigma toward mental illness. Results indicated considerable variability across the three groups, with Puerto Ricans endorsing higher rates of depression and anxiety, as well as higher rates of treatment seeking, than either the immigrant Latinos or the Brazilians. Acculturation played a differential role in the endorsement of anxiety treatment seeking for Brazilians. Finally, although the three groups differed in the extent to which they experienced stigma about mental health issues, stigma did not predict symptom endorsement or treatment-seeking behavior for any of the three groups. These findings underscore the importance of attending to both between-groups and within-group differences in the mental health and mental health treatment experiences of different ethnic groups.
Rural Hispanic Perceptions of Mental Health: A Qualitative Study
Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 2022
Introduction: In 2020, 18.4% of Hispanics experienced mental illness, yet only about a third received treatment compared with nearly half of non-Hispanic Whites. In Montana, where only 11% of the mental health needs are currently met, service utilization is low. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of the Hispanic immigrant population in a rural state on mental health and professional service utilization. Methods: Using a descriptive phenomenological approach, we conducted semi-structured telephone interviews in Spanish. Audio recordings were transcribed, translated to English, and analyzed for themes. Results: We recruited a sample of 14 participants from Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela ranging in age from 33 to 59. We identified five themes: definitions of mental health, maintaining mental health, familismo/socialization, stigma, and acculturation stress. Discussion: Novel findings point to the need for Spanish-language services focused on reducing s...
“The Problem Will Pass:” Attitudes of Latinx Adults Toward Mental Illness and Help Seeking
International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling
Globally, mental illness is still stigmatized by many. The following qualitative study explored beliefs about mental illness and help seeking among Latinx participants in the United States. Themes included mental illness suggesting inferiority and weakness, mental illness stereotypes such as crazy and dangerous, and mental illness does not exist and/or should be ignored. Implications include the importance of culturally competent clinicians being particularly warm and caring. Counselors should also consider using psychoeducation and anti-stigma efforts and interventions when practicing within the Latinx community.