'A silent crisis': Latino community pushes Orange County for local, mental health care
News & ObserverNov 26, 2022
Migrating to
"I've lived more than half of my life here, finding myself alone in this country far from my family," said Huerta, a member of
Huerta spoke in Spanish during a forum held by the
"Outside this building, there are a lot of people who need help," Huerta said. "This is a cry for help from our community."
Speakers described struggling to find help for themselves and their loved ones because of language barriers and cost.
"For many who aren't part of the Hispanic community, this is unfortunately a silent crisis,"
Royo said his church, an NCCLO member, has worked "arduously to break the stigma of talking about mental health."
"However, we know that when people finally have the courage to speak and seek help, they lamentably don't know where to turn," he added.
Bilingual, bicultural providers needed
Data is scarce, Royo said but cited 2019 county statistics that showed "for Hispanics, there are more hospitalization cases due to mental health issues."
More bilingual psychologists and psychiatrists would help, said
"But if we had bilingual therapists who were Hispanic in origin," he said, "it would be much better because not only would they be able to understand their patients, they could comprehend them better."
El Futuro, the Triangle's main bilingual mental health care provider, struggled for funding from
"In the midst of my crisis, I turned to El Futuro for help," Huerta said. "But there's always a long waiting list. I've had to seek help through private therapists. But due to their high cost, I haven't been able to finish my treatment."
National statistics show 57% of Latinos ages 18 to 25 and 40% percent ages 26 to 49 with serious mental illness did not receive treatment in 2018, according to the
The NCCLO and Justice United have met with El Futuro staff, who attended the forum, over the past year to discuss their challenges and possible solutions.
Issue with previous provider
There are over 13,000 Hispanic residents in
The county's previous state-designated Medicaid mental health care provider, Cardinal Innovation, did not invest in the Latino community, NCCLO members said at the
The company was criticized for a policy denying Medicaid reimbursement for the treatment of immigrants without legal status, INDY Week reported.
It also was investigated in 2017 by the state for using public money for luxury expenses and big bonuses, including raising the salary of the company's CEO to
Cardinal received complaints about patient care, as the
Officials commit to helping
Through a Spanish interpreter,
"I too, am passionate about mental health of our entire community, and that certainly includes the Latinx community," said Commissioner
Fowler said
Commissioners reminded people that the emergency phone number 988 can be dialed to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, where help is available in Spanish.
At the forum,
Those proposals call for:
A comprehensive mental health resource guide for the Orange County Latino community.
Spanish-speaking and "culturally responsive" community health workers.
The phased return of El Futuro to
Spanish-language therapeutic group sessions and workshops.
Hiring bilingual providers to the county's proposed Crisis/Diversion Center.
The recruitment and retention of bilingual therapists.
"It's our duty and an honor to work with you," Schreiber said.
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