Vanessa Valencia

Professor Lewenstien

English 1A

17 April 2018

                The Latin Stigma 

Within certain communities like the Latino community, there is a certain stigma around mental illness. My cousin, Scarlett, has been through a lot. She is has dealt with depression which led her to thinking suicidal thoughts.  She wasn't sure how to deal with it. My cousin used drugs as well as alcohol. It all started during her freshman year in high school. I am not even sure as to how she stayed quiet for, so long. Latino families would rather you stay quiet than to have people think you are a psycho. Mental illness equates to being stereotyped as crazy. Thank god her mother found out before it was too late. She was able to get the help she needs. Although, it took her a long time to open up. This affects me deeply because I have known her my whole life. For her to go through something like that is absolutely mind blowing. I just couldn't believe she fell down that path. I didn't think of her as crazy. Others might not think the same way as me. Stereotypes push people to hide and not seek help. To overcome the stigma associated with mental illness we must be willing to speak up, listen, and be compassionate for those affected by mental health issues.

An N.A.M.I article taught me about depression in teens along with the symptoms and ways to help them out. N.A.M.I stands for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They help people find treatment, do fundraisers, and find support. The thesis states "unrealistic academic, social, or family expectations can create a strong sense of rejection and can lead to disappointment." There are many factors as to why teens get depressed. Sometimes their family has a history of mental illness or it can be stress building up. They may feel as things never go their way which in the end causes stress. Also, teens are bombarded with comments from society adding pressure. For example, suicidal adolescents may view a temporary problem as something permanent that they can't let go. It is very important for parents to pay attention to the warning signs of depression and suicide among teens: they need to stop addressing it as just teen angst.

Stigma can be defined as a disgraceful trace in a person or situation. The stigma can cause the topic to be taboo. This leads to people not asking for help. Allison Abrams, who wrote The Catastrophic Effects of Mental Health Stigma, has said that mental illness is a sign of weakness. Many Cultures like Latinos find it disgraceful to even be dealing with mental illness. There are other things that made being mentally ill a stigma. For example, the media like movies portrays people who are mentally ill as violent which isn’t true. People with mental health issues are 10 times more likely to victims of violence than any other person. People have false information regarding mental illness and the media spreads those lies quickly.

My cousin dealt with depression while in high school. Her parents told her to keep it a secret in order not to be judge by family members. This is just one the examples of the stigma about mental illness. In the Latino community, people tend to keep to themselves which can be a good thing. On the other hand, limiting the way people express themselves causes more harm than good. Amanda Wang once said, "many of us know el dicho 'la ropa sucia se lava en casa'. (Similar to 'don't air your dirty laundry in public)." They did not want their child to be known as the crazy one of the family. Too many Latino families like mine what your family says is very important so for one them to criticize you over something you can't control is very heartbreaking. It is difficult to keep something like depression locked away in a box somewhere. Depression stops people from achieving their goals or just being able to do the simple things in life. Keeping everything to yourself contributes to the stigma surrounding mental health within our community and you are bound to explode. Being able to express yourself shouldn't be a certain type of privilege. Everyone has the right to be open with your emotions.

Author Amanda Wang states why Latinos do not seek help for mental health. She  brings up the stigma that very well embedded with Latino culture. Stigma can be defined as a disgraceful trace in a person or situation. Although there are other things that contribute to the lack of people speaking out for help. I can relate to this because my family is exactly like the ones she describes in the article. I remember when I found my aunt had schizophrenia and no one told me. I knew she was sick. Everyone would tell me that she was sick from nervous system. “Está enferma de los nervios” they would say. That is one common way people hide their mental struggles. Latinos let their pride get the best of them. According to Amanda Wang, there is a lack of information within the community. People have to make their own assumptions instead of researching. To stop the stigma, you need two important things which are speaking out and spread information.

When the time came to interview my cousin, it was a just another boring Sunday.  At my cousin’s house, we were in the living room along with her dog Romeo while the television played in the background. She told me what led her to be depressed in the first place. My cousin, Scarlett responded by retelling me the story of how bullying led her to self-harm. She gave her opinion why so many Latinos pretend mental illness don't exist. Nobody wants to think that their child is crazy. “They think it’s a bad thing" she said.  I agree with her. It took her a long time for her to open to me. I wasn't even aware of what was going on with her, but eventually she explained to me about going to a mental health professional and the whole process. Scarlett said she found it intimidating at first mainly because she didn't know this person who she was telling her problems to. That is one of the reasons as to why Latinos don't seek help according to one of my research articles. Latinos like to have their privacy. Going to a mental health professional makes them feel worried about their issues being leaked out. I take a deep breath and ask "Let’s say you never got the help you needed. Like where would you be?"  There was a moment of silence between us. It was hard for me to process that she hurt herself I can only imagine what she's going through. Scarlett used drugs and alcohol. Not only that but she also used blades to cut her thighs. "I honestly don't know. Probably in the same place or worse. Dead" she finally responded. "What are some ways to break the stigma?" ‘Oh well that's easy”, Scarlett said. By speaking up you are already breaking it." Scarlett is right. People don't realize the power they have when using their voice to speak on certain issues. We can't let people deal with these issues alone. I understand that sometimes people don't want to speak out. They rather keep things on the low. Privacy is what we all want to have. The idea of being open about your struggles can be overwhelming and scary. However, speaking out about your battles with, mental illness then you help break the stigma. The stigma pressures people into hiding. Stereotypes happen when people do not have knowledge about a certain topic. So, the more people are open the less stereotypes there will be. They will be able to perceive mental illness in a whole different way. People will become more aware of the situation. Speaking out can have its benefits and doubts but it's up to the person. There can be other ways to break the stigma but speaking out is the most effective way along with showing compassion. Empower others don't shame them.

I chose this topic mental health because it's something that affects many of us. Some of my family members that I am close to deal with mental illness. For example, two of my aunts has schizophrenia. This topic is obviously taken close to heart. In my reading, I learned that Latinas are more likely to commit suicide. According to Jessica Weiss, who wrote an article called Latina teens have highest rate of suicide attempts in the U.S, stated that almost 21.7 percent of Latinas committed or attempted suicide. This should be taken seriously by everyone. These young girls shouldn’t be alone to face their demons.

I still remember the day I found about Scarlett. On a Saturday afternoon, my cousin decided to stop by at my house. While having a casual conversation, I noticed that something was bothering her. She took a deep breath and says, “I used to hurt myself.” I was a bit confused as to what she meant. My cousin slowly raises her shorts to her thighs, so I can see the scars that were left behind by the sharp blade. She continues to explain her misfortune. A group of people started spreading rumors about her. The rumors spread so fast like a cheetah running in the wild. The people she once called friends turned on her leaving my cousin in a dark corner alone. My cousin couldn’t cope. She used drugs and alcohol and drugs to fill in the empty abyss. I was so shocked by everything she was telling me that I forgot to breathe. I wanted to say something for comfort, but my lips were shut as if someone sewed my lips together. When I finally gathered myself together I asked if her parents knew about the situation. Her response was a simple yes. I’m glad my cousin was able to find a way to talk about what was going on. Although I can’t say the same for others. Many struggles with their mental health issues alone with no one to really guide them to the right path. A person cannot be healthy without taking care of their mental state. I hope others have the courage to speak up despite the stigma surrounding the mental health. From the researched that I've gathered it seems as Latinos keep quiet about mental disorders, so others don't judge them.  This applies pressure to those seeking help. My cousin as a little ring with a number 15 on it which was given to her by my aunt. That little ring reminded her of the family who loves her so much. To this day, her family is still there to help her when she needs it the most. The ring was a sign of hope for her not to give up.

Works Cited

“Depression In Teens.” Mental Health America, 8 Dec. 2016,www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/depression-teens  .

Naso, Angela. “Mental Illness and Stigma in the Latino Community.” Center for Health Journalism,www.centerforhealthjournalism.org/fellowships/projects/mental-illnesses-stigma-among-latino-community .

“NAMI.” Latinos | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org/Find-Support/Diverse-Communities/Latino-Mental-Health