Not everyone thinks counselor, psychiatrist, mental health clinic when they are distressed. In some immigrant and minority communities these are not options. They are not considered. They are not part of the dialogue. They cannot afford to even think of it. They are not tradition. There are other ways to deal with such problems, or not to deal with them at all.
Reading this story in an LA area newspaper that belongs to a chain of Hispanic owned publications, brought this to mind. The reporter Elizabeth Hsing-Huei Chou, writes:
Estrada, a Rosemead resident who grew up in East Los Angeles and Montebello, hopes her account, which talks about her struggle to go from denial to acceptance of her illness, will help others avoid the mistakes she made.
She also writes about how her family and friends reacted to her illnesses. She says her traditional Mexican-American family did not know what to do with her.
“I was born here, but from my background… people pity people who lose their mind. They think they’re demonically possessed, or they become bums. Their families reject them. So it is very overwhelming for my family,” she says.
Here is the story:
This what the ethnic media can do well: talk to its own community in a voice everyone hears.
If you know of any examples of reporting like this here, I’d gladly point them out. Any suggestions?
Here is a fine story that talks about this and this is the beginning. It is in Spanish, so click on the translator to the right on this page, if you need it.
En Chicago existen agencias que proveen servicios de salud mental para la comunidad latina e inmigrante, y también grupos de apoyo para sus familias
- FABIOLA POMAREDA / La Raza |
- 2009-07-26
Esquizofrenia, trastorno bipolar, depresión crónica, trastorno de pánico y ansiedad son los males más comunes en la comunidad latina -nacidos aquí o inmigrantes-, dicen quienes atienden a estos clientes en agencias y clínicas de Chicago.
Pero sigue siendo difícil convencer a alguien para que busque ayuda, informar sobre los servicios disponibles y ahora también, mantener programas que atienden a esta población, en medio de las dificultades financieras.
SOBRELLEVAR LA CARGA
Como parte del trabajo que realiza en NAMI, Rosas recomienda a los clientes ir a terapia una vez a la semana, ya sea individual o en grupo. Sin embargo, cuando alguien vive en negación, no busca ayuda para su condición, y lo mismo sucede con la familia. “Por ejemplo, hay madres que no le dicen al doctor los síntomas de su hijo, porque el hijo le pidió: “Mamá, no le digas al doctor que yo escuchaba voces”.
