College - Author 1
College of Liberal Arts
Department - Author 1
Modern Languages and Literatures Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BA in Modern Languages and Literatures
Date
3-2013
Primary Advisor
Karen Muñoz Christian
Abstract/Summary
This project attempts to identify and bring to light the issues relating to treatment of Latinos and native Spanish speakers in the United States. The stigma surrounding depression is already strong in the U.S., and when minorities, who tend to have their own views of mental health disorders and who are less likely to seek treatment for any mental health disorder they might have, are added to the picture, the rates of treatment go drastically down. There are many factors that play into whether or not Latinos will seek treatment for depression, many of which revolve around language and culture, two factors that have an important role in their willingness to seek treatment.
It is through the need for cultural competence and the breaking down of language barriers in medical professionals in the U.S. that rates for treatment of depression amongst Latinos can increase and presumably the stigma surrounding depression will decrease.
I use what available research has been done on the relationship between depression and Latinos to examine how large of a need the problem presents and what can be done to encourage Latinos to seek out treatment for depression. The study hopes to expose what areas of mental health treatment and Latino outreach need to be changed so that Latinos, and other minorities, can receive the treatment they need and deserve.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mllsp/24
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Latin American Studies Commons, Other Linguistics Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Social Psychology Commons