How does silence break the conversation about mental health?

Mental health is one of those issues that many of us would rather keep silent about or cover up.

But reality cannot be made up: One in five adults in the United States suffers from a mental illness. We are talking about 52.9 million grandparents, parents, children, neighbors and friends, in numbers corresponding to 2020, that is, in the first year of the COVID pandemic.

And we now know that the pandemic has not only deepened many of these conditions, but has exacerbated disparities in diagnosis and treatment for minorities of color, especially Latinos and African Americans.

Black and Hispanic youth were 14% less likely to have received treatment for their depression before the pandemic than non-Hispanic white youth. The situation has certainly worsened. Currently, about 50% to 75% of young people in the juvenile justice system meet the criteria for a mental health disorder.

The study says nearly half of children who have mental health emergencies don’t get the follow-up they need

This means that a wide swath of our new generations is suffering from confinement in prisons, rather than medical treatment for what constitutes a clear public health crisis.

what to do In addition to the structural problems of access to diagnosis and treatment, which require far-reaching institutional strategies, experts tell us that there are things we can do in our personal area of ​​responsibility to make a difference.

“Open and transparent communication is very important. And this starts at an early age. It is important for parents to realize the importance of talking to their children,” says Dr. Sergio Aguilar-Gacciola.

A mental health professional explains that among us Latinos we have a kind of “cultural silence” about mental health issues, a stigma that prevents us from speaking up when we’re feeling depressed or even having suicidal thoughts.

65% of Latinas in California face mental health issues, according to a study

All of this makes it even more important to start that first conversation with our loved ones. As the doctor suggests, we need to be adept at initiating the first talk that will help break the cycle of silence and put our mentally challenged loved ones on the path to the care they deserve.

As a journalist, I participated in the new campaign.Let’s talk about mental healthLaunched this year by La Red Hispana and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The idea is to provide all the resources and advice in Spanish that can change the lives of many people.

It’s time to break the silence. The path to mental health begins with one small but vital step: starting the conversation with our loved ones about their feelings and challenges. And tell them they are not alone.