Preface to Latino Mental Health Section
From the Editor:
We have four articles that give us a taste of what mental health means to the Latino community.
The word Latino has several definitions. Among them is: related to or derived from the people or culture of Spain.
There are many subgroups of Latino. In New York City alone, we have representation from Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and South America. Each of these groups has different histories, different political relationships to the U.S., different genetics, and fundamentally different cultures.
It is known that these groups speak different dialects of Spanish. Is there anything in common besides core language among these different peoples? I am afraid that is one of the questions you will not have completely answered in our Latino Mental Health section. But you will learn about the situation for consumers in Uruguay and Mexico. You will hear from two people who try to explain what mental health means to the Latina. We also have a clinical psychologist who speaks from her experience working very closely with Latino peoples in New York City.
I hope you are able to enjoy what we have. Let's try to expand our minds on the Latino experience in mental healthcare.