LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and coauthored by Chair Janice Hahn in support of mental health treatment for Latino residents. 

“Within the Latino community, there is a significant stigma when discussing mental health,” said Supervisor Solis. “Unfortunately, as with other communities of color, having a mental health condition is often associated with feelings of shame. This is a prevailing attitude we must overcome to ensure all residents have access to the care they need. But this is further exacerbated by systemic issues impacting the health outcomes of Latino residents. This is not only a challenge in LA County, but nationwide. With this motion, I am committed to moving the needle in ensuring that our most vulnerable residents have equitable access to quality, affordable mental healthcare.”

Between 2014 and 2019, over 1,000 Spanish-speaking health facilities nationwide that offered mental health services closed their doors. A study by the American Psychological Association found that only 5.5% of U.S. psychologists say they’re able to administer mental health services in Spanish. And less than half report being knowledgeable about working with the specific needs of Latino patients.

“Millions of residents primarily speak Spanish, yet there is still a lack of clinicians who are able to provide comprehensive mental health treatment in Spanish. We’re experiencing a mental health crisis, and that gap is unacceptable. With this motion we’re bringing the County’s resources to bear to do better by this community,” said Chair Hahn. “Our most important job is to be a safety net, and that has to include mental health resources that are accessible to all of our residents.”

Studies have found that the demand for full-time bilingual psychologists within the Latino community is expected to surge 30% across the country by 2030, with LA County having the highest demand. Fortunately, there are efforts at the federal level to address these disparities.

Representative Grace Napolitano and Senator Alex Padilla have introduced the Mental Health for Latinos Act, which would require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop and implement an outreach and education strategy to promote behavioral and mental health among Latinos. The strategy would provide information on evidence-based practices, interventions, and treatments that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. It would also increase awareness of symptoms of mental illness among Latinos, taking into account differences due to gender identity, age, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. It would also require SAMHSA to report annually to Congress on the extent to which the strategy developed and implemented improved behavioral and mental health outcomes.

The vote today approves sending a five-signature letter to Representative Napolitano and Senator Padilla, with a copy to the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation, in support of the Mental Health for Latinos Act. Approval of the motion also includes a strategic plan and outreach campaign to focus on the hiring and retention of bilingual and Spanish-speaking clinicians, and it encourages partnerships with local universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions to further develop the workforce pipeline.