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“The Problem Will Pass:” Attitudes of Latinx Adults Toward Mental Illness and Help Seeking

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Abstract

Globally, mental illness is still stigmatized by many. The following qualitative study explored beliefs about mental illness and help seeking among Latinx participants in the United States. Themes included mental illness suggesting inferiority and weakness, mental illness stereotypes such as crazy and dangerous, and mental illness does not exist and/or should be ignored. Implications include the importance of culturally competent clinicians being particularly warm and caring. Counselors should also consider using psychoeducation and anti-stigma efforts and interventions when practicing within the Latinx community.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Counselor Education Program, Department of Interdisciplinary Professions, East Carolina University, 225 Ragsdale Hall, Mailstop 121, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA

    Allison Crowe, Janee ’ R. Avent Harris & Loni Crumb

  2. School of Social Work, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Paige Averett

  3. Applied Psychology, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH, USA

    Syntia Santos Dietz

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  1. Allison Crowe
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  2. Paige Averett
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  3. Janee ’ R. Avent Harris
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  4. Loni Crumb
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Correspondence to Allison Crowe.

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Crowe, A., Averett, P., Harris, J.’.R.A. et al. “The Problem Will Pass:” Attitudes of Latinx Adults Toward Mental Illness and Help Seeking. Int J Adv Counselling 44, 453–468 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-021-09425-1

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