"It's like going through an earthquake": anthropological perspectives on depression among Latino immigrants.
Depression is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses in the community and is responsible for a significant amount of disability. According to epidemiological and primary care studies, Latinos suffer from depression at high rates. This paper examines in depth Latinos' conceptions of depression and their attitudes towards and expectations of mental health treatment. The aim of this paper is to summarize several qualitative studies examining Latinos' cultural understandings of mental health in general and depression in particular, as well as to obtain information about the barriers to care that this community experienced. The results are a compilation of findings from four different research projects in New Jersey and New York that examined diverse Latinos' conceptions of mental health, treatment and barriers to care.
Martínez Pincay
Igda E
IE
Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, 152 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8085, USA. igda_martinez@hotmail.com
Guarnaccia
Peter J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D009518:New York; D012106:Research