Exploring Latinx Parental Perspectives on Youth Mental Health and Discrimination

Background and Purpose: Latinx youth comprise a significant and growing segment of the youth population. Amid this demographic shift, it is imperative to understand the unique stressors faced by this population to foster positive development. Latinx youth face mental health disparities, including elevated rates of anxiety and depression, compounded by discrimination, stigma, and inadequate support systems. Additionally, access to mental health treatment remains disproportionately limited for Latinx youth, hindered by structural barriers and low parental mental health literacy.

While parents play a central role in managing youth healthcare, little is known about Latinx parental mental health literacy. Additionally, discomfort discussing discrimination with children exacerbates its internalization, contributing to adverse outcomes. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap by exploring parental perceptions and knowledge of mental health symptoms and treatment, discrimination stressors, and parental engagement strategies in assisting youth when they are stressed or report discriminatory experiences.

Methods: Thirty Latinx parents with adolescent children (aged 10 to 17) were recruited for semi-structured interviews, conducted in English or Spanish. Participants were recruited from two Latinx-serving community providers, one in Oregon and one in Pennsylvania. Parents ranged in age from 31-50 years old and years residing in the United States ranged from 1.5-32 years. The interview guide was developed collaboratively with community providers and focused on parent perceptions of types of discrimination experienced by youth (language, colorism, immigration) and discussions around how they interact with youth about discrimination. Perceptions of mental illness and treatments and parental practices when/if they noticed their children might be expressing symptoms of anxiety or depression were also discussed. Thematic analysis identified patterns and themes in the data.

Results: Analysis revealed the pervasive nature of discrimination in participants' lives, with parents encouraging youth to ignore the situation if the perpetrators were children. Whereas, parents often felt the need to confront the situation if the perpetrators were adults. Parents frequently attributed mental illness to individual factors like a lack of productivity in their children’s lives. They also felt that if their children’s basic needs were met they had no reason to feel stress or experience mental illness. Themes arose of stigma surrounding mental health as a significant barrier to seeking professional help, underscoring the need to destigmatize mental health for Latinx youth. Parents also felt a general mistrust in the medical system, particularly among providers lacking Spanish proficiency, and felt that mental health support for youth should be provided elsewhere in the community.

Conclusions and Implications: The findings highlight the intricate interplay between discrimination, mental health stigma, and parental attitudes toward mental illness within Latinx communities. Addressing these challenges necessitates culturally sensitive approaches recognizing Latinx families' unique needs. Implications include advocating for community-based mental health screening and interventions, enhancing access to culturally competent care, and fostering trust between healthcare providers and Latinx communities.