The Way We Talk About Mental Health as Latinos Needs to Change

Collage-style silhouette of a woman, composed of newspaper cutouts emphasizing the words 'Mental health'.
Luz Media

The conversation around mental health has changed drastically in recent years with the rise of awareness and education. For example, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it has contributed tremendously to the progress. However, in the Latino community, some stigma remains, and it’s reflected in the way Latinos tend to discuss mental health issues. Views on mental health vary among Latinos; some view mental health issues or illnesses as a weakness or personal failure, some experience shame and keep things quiet, and some are actively afraid of being labeled as “crazy.”


While the importance of mental health is increasingly recognized as integral to overall health, the way we talk about it in the Latino community still needs some work. Many factors contribute to mental health issues and disorders, including psychological, biological, environmental, and even socioeconomic factors. This is why, though they may vary in nature and level of severity, we all experience mental health challenges at one point or another. It’s part of the human experience.

Mental illness affects every demographic and a 2023 study revealed that “one out of every two people in the world will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime.” In the U.S., almost 22% of Latinos reported a mental illness according to the 2021 NSDUH Annual National Report. Moreover, NoStigmas reported that nearly 17.7% of Latinos suffer from depression during their lifetime. Latinos are no strangers to mental health issues, but openly talking about them is not the norm.

As Latinos, whether we’re going through a hard time, have experienced trauma, or live with a mental health disorder, breaking the silence is essential in helping the community break away from the stigma around mental health. Moreover, it’s not just about breaking the silence, it’s also about changing the language we use when it comes to mental health. This is how we can contribute to a more understanding and supportive community.

Destigmatizing the language about mental health in the Latino community

Language is powerful because it influences how we perceive things and the attitudes we adopt about any given topic. This is why the way mental health is discussed within Latino culture needs to change. More often than not, people who struggle with mental health issues are labeled as “crazy,” “unbalanced,” “unstable,” and even “lazy.” All of these words have negative connotations and they perpetuate stigma around mental health, causing shame for many. This kind of language also perpetuates the culture of silence, which prevents Latinos from asking for help or even discussing their issues.

Being more inclusive and respectful can go a long way in making our friends, family members, and other people around us in the community feel safe about seeking support. While strides have been made in education around mental health, most Latinos are still misinformed about it. For example, many still believe that psychological therapy is reserved for people who are “crazy,” but that’s just not the case.

Therapy provides support to unpack and resolve trauma, examine experiences that have marked us, navigate difficult situations or life transitions, learn interpersonal skills, and more. Essentially, it provides a safe space for the betterment of our mental and emotional health. Just as our bodies need regular check-ups, so do our minds, and that’s what therapy is for. However, for Latinos, therapy means there’s something deeply wrong and it’s often seen as a last resort rather than a resource.

Changing the way we talk about mental health issues and solutions like therapy or even medication, which is also viewed as a negative in the Latino community, can make a difference for all. Destigmatizing the language about mental health requires us to stop using the usual, negative terms, be more mindful about our choice of words, and kindly correct others. It also requires us to talk more openly about mental health and encourage education not only in ourselves but also in our inner circles.

Other barriers affecting Latino mental health

The way we talk about mental health as Latinos is not the only thing keeping the stigma alive in the community. Gender role expectations contribute to it as well, with Latino men feeling pressured to embody strength and dominance (machismo), while Latina women may internalize beliefs of self-sacrifice and independence (marianismo), deterring them from seeking help. Additionally, the notion of keeping "family business" private further inhibits open discussions about mental health within the community.

A general lack of education and awareness regarding mental health issues in the Latino community leads to difficulty in recognizing when support is needed and understanding the benefits of treatment. Moreover, a significant portion of Latin Americans face financial constraints and lack adequate insurance coverage, making mental health care unaffordable or inaccessible. This issue is exacerbated by challenges in finding culturally sensitive providers, especially for those who require Spanish-speaking professionals.

Immigration status further complicates access to care, leaving many individuals with undiagnosed and untreated mental illnesses. The scarcity of mental health providers who understand the cultural nuances of the Latino community is another barrier to accessing effective care. Not to mention that religious beliefs can also be a hurdle, with some Latinos believing that the power of faith is an effective replacement for professional therapy.

Addressing these barriers requires comprehensive efforts and a systemic change, but we can start with our inner circles and communities by supporting mental health initiatives aimed at Latinos, changing the way we talk about mental health, encouraging conversations about mental health within Latino friend groups, families, and communities at large, sharing mental health resources, and educating ourselves and others.

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).