The Impact of Mental Health Strategies on Latino/a’s Depression and Anxiety

Event Center BC

Communities that are faced with numerous health disparities frequently suffer from a lack of community-based resources that are able to avert such disparities. San Bernardino’s Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) developed an innovative, community-based project to address health disparities related to mental health awareness, service utilization, and mental health outcomes. DBH’s approach relied on a community-based organization, the Inspire Multicultural Holistic Campus, which provided preventative mental health and mental health services that were developed by the community. Within a one year evaluation period, the Latino/a sample (N=925, Female=70%, Male=29%) was observed. Methods of assessment included demographic information, logged visitor documentation, and various mental health surveys, including assessments. This study reports findings regarding mental health seeking strategies for the subsample of Latino/a participants. The sample consisted of 110 (75.9%) Latina participants and 35 (24.1%). Specifically, this study aims to address the impact of mental health seeking strategies on Latino/a’s levels of depression and anxiety. It was hypothesized that endorsement of increased mental health strategies would be associated with Latino/a’s decreased depression and anxiety scores.The findings of this study propose that increased knowledge of mental health strategies is associated with decreased depression and anxiety. Related evidence suggests that willingness to engage in mental health strategies were positively impacted by participation in Inspire activities and services. Given Latino/a’s historic underutilization of mental health services, it is critical to develop similar community-based holistic approaches to help develop real-life tactics, such as increasing mental health strategies, in order to address depression and anxiety within this population.