Amongst the Latine community, there is a pervasive stigma against the recognition and management of mental health issues (Jimenez et al., 2022). This stigma will often discourage individuals from acknowledging or seeking treatment, which contributes to increased rates of social isolation and overall quality of life. Latines and Spanish-speaking older adults are also less likely to access mental health services despite having a larger occurrence of depressive and anxiety disorders (Jimenez et al., 2022).
We, Ayushi Agrawal (she/her) and Lizeth Sotelo (she/her), are doctoral students in Clinical Psychology PhD Program at Palo Alto University (PAU). We want to share our experience with Division 20 about how we used our clinical training to promote mental health awareness to and improve access for Spanish-speaking older adults. Our training includes learning to do psychotherapy at PAU’s La Clínica Latina, a specialty community mental health clinic that serves local Latine-identifying and Spanish-speaking community in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Rowena Gomez, PhD’s Aging, Neuropsychology, and Depression Research Lab, we also conducted research on wellbeing and cognition in Latine older adults.
Utilizing our clinical coursework and clinical and research training, we presented mental health psychoeducation talks to Spanish-speaking older adults across the United States through a program called Well-Connected Español (WCE). As part of the non-profit organization Front Porch, WCE is a phone and online program tailored towards Spanish-speaking older adults to provide education, support, and resources to empower their community to prioritize their mental health and seek aid when needed from the comfort of their own home. This community is comprised of older adults, organizers, presenters, and volunteers who are committed to fostering meaningful connections, promoting well-being, and improving the quality of life for older adults.
In Fall 2023, Ayushi presented on “Maintaining our Mental Health after the Pandemic.” Liz presented this past Winter 2024 on the “Importance of Maintaining Healthy Sleeping Patterns.” We are set to co-present this Summer 2024, on the “Benefits of Enriching your Social Life!” Our involvement in WCE has proven to be very fulfilling. We were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by this community, which was so engaged in their pursuit of knowledge to better themselves physically and mentally. They were attentive, asked questions, cracked jokes, and, overall, were a delight! The presentation provided a glimpse of a flourishing on-line Latine older adult community that is thriving and working towards healthy aging by having conversations that center on them and their needs. This experience reinforced our belief in the importance of organizations like WCE in bridging gaps, providing education, and fostering a supportive environment for the overall well-being of older adults, especially those who are not native English speakers. It is empowering to be part of systemic change and see a Latine older adult community that is actively embracing and benefiting from resources specifically for them. By actively seeking ways to give back to the community, we are creating bridges and improving access to mental health resources to create a healthier and more empowered space for Latine older adults.
If you would like more information about WCE, please visit their websiteopens in new window.
References
Jimenez, D. E., Park, M., Rosen, D., Joo, J. hui, Garza, D. M., Weinstein, E. R., Conner, K., Silva, C., & Okereke, O. (2022). Centering culture in mental health: Differences in diagnosis, treatment, and access to care among older people of color. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 30(11), 1234–1251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2022.07.001