Document Type
Master's Thesis
Graduation Year
2019
Degree
Master of Science
Program
Counseling Psychology
Program Director
Robin Gayle, PhD, MFT
First Reader
Carlos Molina, EdD, LMFT
Second Reader
Mary McDevitt, LMFT
Abstract
In the present study, the researcher sought to examine the factors associated with Latino immigrants and the barriers/challenges that are faced in mental health. The main question that the researcher focuses on in the present study is: What are some of the mental health challenges for Latino immigrants & how do these disparities further impact psychological well-being? Furthermore, the research focuses on highlighting the variables that are increasingly damaging to the minority population of Latinos in the United States. These variables include lack of health insurance, stigma, acculturation issues, legal issues, and biopsychosocial factors, such as socioeconomic class. In multiple studies, but particularly one conducted by Cook, Zuvekas, Chen, Progovac, and Lincoln (2016), findings demonstrated that rates of mental illness are similar across most racial and ethnic backgrounds, however the challenges and disparities associated with mental illnesses are greater for individuals who identify with minority populations, or Latino immigrants. These factors negatively impact mental health and the well-being for this marginalized, minority population in the United States. The population in focus for this research are Latino immigrants, both documented and undocumented, that reside throughout the United States, with a sub-focus on those residing in Northern California, Marin County. On top of providing information based on mental health and mental illness through the lens of Latinos in the United States, this manual also hopes to unveil the disparities and challenges associated with help-seeking behaviors, resources, awareness, and stigma, to name a few.