Latino Community Reflection Essay

899 Words2 Pages

I'm part of the largest ethnic minority group in the United States. By 2050, Latinos will account for 25% of the U.S. population. These rising numbers keeps most politicians scratching their heads on how to handle immigration issues wishing there was an easy way out for them of course; how to please the masses from deep-rooted discrimination within our communities on their speeches in order to gain followers. Others don't even care of throwing damaging lies fueling the violent media machine of prejudice against foreigners whose desire is to reside in this country. This invisible preconception preludes the common many Latinos feel offended by; the feisty Latina, loud, spicy, with strong family values, and the ones who do the job a gringo doesn't want to take. I've become to embrace the funny side of many of them. I feel proud of the traditions, ethics, language, and strong values which contribute to form …show more content…

For most Latinos, psychiatric illness is due to stress and acculturation, rather than chemical imbalances in the brain. The use of medication heightens the stigma among Latinos; I battled for years for taking the decision of giving my son medication for ADHD. My family thought I'd took the easy way out. There is a say "No se lava la ropa en casa ajena" (One must not wash their dirty clothes in someone else's home). Problems are handled within the family and it shouldn't be discussed outside the home. In general, Immigration statuses play a strong influence on Latino mental health. A high percent of Hispanics do not have insurance, and also the lack of Spanish speaking mental health staff makes it difficult to monitor any effectiveness in treatment. The Hispanic community is taking gigantic steps within the political realm amid harsh criticism, unveiling the destructive label of anti-immigration laws and taking measures of creating sensitive mental health services for Latino

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