Depression and Anxiety among Latinos: Urgent Call for Mental Health Services

A new survey finds increased prevalence in depression and anxiety among Latinos in Washington State. LCH calls for policymakers to recognize this issue as critical and make short- and long-term changes to improve access to mental healthcare.

University of Washington, Seattle: The prevalence of depression and anxiety among Latinos in WA state increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey study conducted by the Latino Center for Health. As part of a COVID-19 policy brief, LCH reports 13% and 16% of respondents scored “depression likely” and “anxiety likely”, respectively. Additionally, 9% of participants’ scores indicate clinically significant comorbidity of anxiety and depression.

This policy brief is part of LCH’s COVID-19 policy brief series. LCH researchers used data from the “Understanding Washington Latinos’ Experiences Around COVID-19” survey developed by the center in partnership with Sea Mar Community Health Centers.

Latinos are disproportionately affected by stressors that negatively impact their mental health. Out of all survey respondents, 39% indicated that they were unemployed, 41% reported that they were uninsured, and 57% reported having completed a high school education or less.

“COVID-19 has illuminated and exacerbated disparities in anxiety and depression impacting Latinos. WA state must do much more to provide accessible, and culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services for all Latinos in our state, including rural and urban, insured and uninsured, migrant and non-migrant, and immigrant and non-immigrant,” said LCH co-Director Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the study.

Overall, scores for “depression likely” and “anxiety likely” were higher among younger (18-30 years old) and older participants (>65 years old), women, divorced, those with higher education, and those with lower incomes.

This policy brief contains a list of recommendations to improve and promote access to culturally and linguistically responsive mental health services to urban and rural Latinos in Washington state. Some short- and long-term recommendations include:

Make temporary waivers for telehealth (telemedicine and telemental health) services permanent.
Increase access to evidence-based, culturally responsive telephone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) depression care.
Incentivize college and university educational programs across the state to strengthen and enhance their equity curriculum through developing and implementing Latino mental health curriculum and tracks.

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Sea Mar Community Health Centers, founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington state.Sea Mar’snetwork of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics in WA state and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services.

Dr. Jimenez participates in WA DOH Spanish panel on COVID-19 and going back to school

The Washington State Department of Health, Univisión Seattle, and the Latino Center for Health (LCH) co-hosted a Spanish-speaking virtual panel on May 13, 2021 about going back to school in times of COVID. Among the panelists was Dr. Nathalia Jimenez, pediatric anesthesiologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Director of LCH.

Dr. Jimenez underscored the importance of taking COVID-19 very seriously, given that, in some cases, children can have serious complications when contracting the virus, and more than 300 children have died of COVID-19 in the United States from a condition called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MISC).

Dr. Jimenez also clarified that various studies show how schools are a low-risk environment when it comes to COVID-19 infections when adequate safety measures are in place, such as mask usage, washing hands, appropriate ventilation, and social distancing.

This blog post (in Spanish) by the WA Department of Health provides more details about the panel, including important information given by the panelists.

Here is the full recording of the Spanish-speaking panel:

And here is the English voiceover of the recording:

Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among WA State Latinos Appears to be Low, Accessibility Remains Concern

A new survey finds 62 percent of Latinos/Hispanics in Washington state are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine yet remain under-vaccinated. LCH calls for policymakers and public health officials to target communications and accessibility barriers.

University of Washington, Seattle: In a new survey of Sea Mar Community Health Center patients, the Latino Center for Health (LCH) found that most (62%) Latinos/Hispanics believe vaccines are safe and effective at preventing infections and are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine if available to them, despite having some concerns related to cost, side effects, and effectiveness.

“This data supports that the issue with Latinos not getting the COVID-19 vaccine is not so much due to hesitancy but access. Our policymakers should address these barriers and bring the vaccine to our communities to mitigate the health inequities that Latinos have experienced during the pandemic,” said Dr. Miriana C. Durán, Research Coordinator at the University of Washington School of Public Health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Latinos nationally, with mortality nearly six times that of non-Latino whites. In Washington state, the COVID-19 infection rate for Latinos is the second-highest in the nation, accounting for more than a third of COVID-19 cases in the state when Latinos are only 13% of the state’s population. Throughout the pandemic, Latinos have had inadequate access to COVID-19 testing and other resources and are once again lagging behind other groups in the state in accessing approved COVID-19 vaccines, despite being overrepresented in the state’s essential workforce. As of 4/7/2021, Latinos make up only 7% of all individuals 16 years of age and older who have received at least one vaccine dose in WA state.

In light of the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on Latinos in WA, inequities in vaccine access, and the willingness of Latinos to take the vaccine, LCH urges community leaders, policymakers, and public health officials to increase the vaccination rate for Latinos in WA by tailoring communication strategies and public education, improving access, and engaging with local community-based organizations.

This policy brief prepared by LCH contains a list of recommendations aimed at reducing vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccine acceptance and uptake among Latinos in WA state. Some recommendations include:

Engaging local Latino community leaders as effective and trusted advocates to deliver information on COVID-19 vaccines.
Expanding service hours in vaccination clinics, including after-hours and weekends, making appointments accessible to people working in various shifts.
Increasing engagement with Community-Based Organizations as trusted, safe, and familiar spaces, with cultural and linguistic knowledge.

“Latinos in WA want to get the COVID-19 vaccine — let’s be empathetic, meet them where they are, help them overcome the obstacles they face, and give them relevant information in the language they understand best,” said Community Health Worker and UW Public Health Practice student Aida Hidalgo MSc, Ph.D.

LCH created the survey and policy brief in partnership with Sea Mar Community Health Centers. Sea Mar’s network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics in WA state and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services.

Dr. Morales quoted in recent KUOW article on vaccine inequities among Latinos

Dr. Morales, co-director of the Latino Center for Health, told KUOW that what’s needed to bridge the gap in vaccine inequities among Latinos is to bring the vaccines to where the people are.

“I don’t think the solution is just to open up mass vaccination sites,” he said. “That just doesn’t work.”

Read more about what he and other community members believe DOES work: https://www.kuow.org/stories/as-latinos-wait-for-vaccines-in-seattle-area-they-keep-getting-sick

BRIDGE project funded by UW Population Health Initiative

The UW Population Health Initiative just announced the awarded projects of its 2021 pilot research grant program, one of which was the Bi-directional Research Digital Engagement (BRIDGE) project whose Principal Investigator is Dr. Nathalia Jimenez, Research Director of the Latino Center for Health.

BRIDGE aims to highlight community voices to address current COVID-19 needs and create a sustainable platform for future communication around Latinx health.

You can read more about the project in the abstract below. Congratulations, Nathalia and team!

Project abstract

Responding to the need for sustainable academic-community partnerships to address the burden of COVID-19 in Washington State Latinx communities, we propose developing an innovative bi-cultural, Bi-directional Research Digital Engagement (BRIDGE) Program.

BRIDGE is a new partnership between the Latino Center for Health, the UW Department of Communications’ Center for Communication Difference and Equity (CCDE), UW School of Medicine’s Latinx Health Pathway (LHP) and the Mexican Consulate. BRIDGE aims to highlight community voices to address current COVID-19 needs and create a sustainable platform for future communication around Latinx health.

BRIDGE’s innovative approach leverages infrastructure from the Mexican consulate (Spanish radio programing and Facebook reach 20,000+ followers) and an interdisciplinary network of faculty in LHP, combined with CCDE’s storytelling experience, to create an interactive platform for in-time communication with Latinx communities.

Based on findings from LCH’s collaborative work around COVID-19 with the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network and SeaMar Community Health Centers, and input from our community partner, the Mexican Consulate, BRIDGE proposes a stepwise pilot program that captures community needs through personal stories to understand gaps in care, education and outreach related to COVID-19 (e.g., mental health, school needs for Latinx children). It responds to outlined needs with in-time, culturally appropriate educational content (e.g., vaccinations) from bicultural/bilingual faculty and students to be disseminated through the Mexican Consulate’s outreach network.

Pilot data will inform future COVID-19 research efforts and a grant submission on the evaluation of social media as a tool for disseminating culturally appropriate health information to Latinx immigrant communities.

Investigators
Nathalia Jimenez, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine
Carmen Gonzalez, Department of Communication
Daniel Cabrera, Department of Medicine
Diana Maria Oliveros, Mexican Consulate in Seattle
Meg Gomez, School of Social Work
Aida Hidalgo, School of Public Health
Mikaela Freundlich Zubiaga, UW Latino Center for Health

Dr. Morales presents at Latino Legislative Day 2021

Latino Legislative Day took place on March 16 this year, with a packed agenda including researchers, community advocates, elected officials, and even a Mariachi performance.

You can watch all the presentations, keynote speakers, and performances, by following this link: https://fb.watch/4idIbLOxfe/

Dr. Morales Slides for Latino Legislative Day 2021:Download

Dr. Aisenberg participates in WA DOH Spanish panel on COVID-19 & mental health

The Washington State Department of Health, Univisión Seattle, and the Latino Center for Health (LCH) co-hosted a Spanish-speaking virtual panel on February 25, 2021 about mental health & wellbeing in times of COVID. Among the panelists was Dr. Gino Aisenberg, associate professor of the School of Social Work and co-director of LCH.

When asked about what we can do to improve our mental health and wellbeing during this pandemic, Dr. Aisenberg gave some fun and easy examples: “Listening to music, cooking our favorite foods like a delicious mole, or doing exercise, like playing volleyball in your home with the family, but with a balloon instead of a ball.”

You can watch the full recording of the Spanish-speaking panel here:

And here is the English voiceover of the recording:

Dr. Morales featured in KCTS 9 “Hidden Barriers: The persistent disparities in accessing WA health care”

Dr. Morales is featured around minute 1:30.

GO-MAP BIPOC Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program: Applications Now Open!

Are you a BIPOC student interested in being a mentor or a mentee? Then the GO-MAP BIPOC Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program is for you!

What is the GO-MAP BIPOC Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program?

The GO-MAP BIPOC Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program is a program designed for graduate students to gain and utilize their mentorship skills to support undergraduate students in their academic and non-academic successes.

GO-MAP helps create an inclusive and equitable campus environment through its focused efforts. The GO-MAP Graduate Student Advisory Board (GSAB) leads the BIPOC Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program.

Because we know and understand that it can be difficult for BIPOC students to navigate a predominately white institution, our hope is for this mentoring program to help aid in the difficulties and inequalities that come with being a BIPOC student at the UW.

Application Deadline: March 19, 2021

Application Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehIQ24nspnKTBeEO_DGW-hq6B_-5gg0DNGxBGidW5pshigHw/viewform

Please reach out to Brittany Ulloa (bulloa@uw.edu) or Jessica Ramirez with any questions (jr72@uw.edu)

FAQs:

How does it work?

Graduate student mentors and mentees will be asked to fill out a short application form for the program staff to 1) get to know you more and 2) to choose and match mentors to mentees. Once selected, program staff will connect mentors and mentees via email. More information will be detailed in your email introduction to the program.

What is the commitment?

1 academic year (Spring 2021 until the end of Spring 2022 for our pilot program)
Very flexible to work around your schedule (arranged between mentor/mentee)
Quarterly check in’s with program staff (members of GO-MAP and GSAB)
Welcome Orientation via Zoom in April 2021

Who should be a mentor?

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) Graduate Student–Masters and/or PhD
BIPOC graduate students who are passionate about and value
BIPOC graduate students who want to share their experiences with undergraduate students

What benefits could you gain as a mentor?

Enhancing your mentorship skills, especially for those who see themselves as future faculty members or leaders in other sectors
Formal workshop on how to be an effective mentor with inclusive, diverse, and equitable
Genuine connections with fellow graduate student mentors and undergraduate

Who should be a mentee?

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) Undergraduate Students
BIPOC undergraduate students wanting support within an educational experience

What benefits might you gain as a mentee?

One-on-one academic and career advice from mentors
Resume and CV building support from mentors
Resources/Networking (i.e. support on an application, an internship opportunity) from mentors

COVID-19 & Latino Health

Latinx Leaders Across WA Call for Culturally Responsive Policies for COVID-19 Recovery:

Read our policy briefs to learn how we can support COVID recovery and health equity for Latinx communities.

2021 LCH Symposium: COVID-19 & Latino Experiences in WA State

COVID-19 Policy Brief Series:

Latino Views on COVID-19 Vaccinations: Understanding Hesitancy. Released April 27, 2021.
Depression and Anxiety among Latinos: Urgent Call for Mental Health Services. Released June 16, 2021.
Vaccination Rates Among Washington State Latinos Remain Low as Delta Variant Emerges in the U.S. Released July 7, 2021.
Examining Trusted Sources of COVID-19 Information Among Latinos. Released October 6, 2021.
Vaccination Rates Among Washington State’s Latinos are Improving, but Challenges Remain. Released October 27, 2021.
Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Latinos in WA State and its Toll on Women. Released December 9, 2021.
New childcare, teaching responsibilities during COVID-19 pandemic widening educational gaps for Latino families. Released March 10, 2022.

Latino Legislative Day 2021:

*A slide of Dr. Morales’ presentation on Latino Legislative Day, March 16, 2021*

Dr. Leo Morales Slides for Latino Legislative Day 2021:Download

Watch the full recording of the event here: https://fb.watch/4idIbLOxfe/

COVID-19 and mental health:

“Protegiendo el bienestar emocional de su familia en tiempos de COVID-19” virtual Spanish-speaking panel hosted by the WA State Dept. of Health, Univision Seattle, and LCH.

COVID-19 vaccine:

A panel of Latino health experts answer frequently asked questions, debunk myths, and address concerns in Spanish regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

https://youtu.be/qc7lJSN4488

LCH Research Director Dr. Nathalia Jimenez answers questions in Spanish regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

LCH Research Director Dr. Nathalia Jimenez shares her experience of getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Spanish.

News articles:

COVID-19 spikes fourfold among Washington’s Latinos, and it’s reaching almost every corner of the population | published January 24, 2021 in The Seattle Times, citing Dr. Leo Morales

Disproportionately hit by COVID-19, WA Latinos brace for vaccine | published January 14, 2021 in Crosscut, citing Dr. Leo Morales

Webinar: The Burden of COVID-19 on Latinx Communities in WA State

On September 23rd, 2020, the Latino Center for Health (LCH) hosted a webinar to raise awareness of the largely hidden disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on Latinx communities across Washington State and to amplify community- and state-led response efforts happening in our rural and urban communities.

https://youtu.be/24mEl29h22E

https://youtu.be/Nqd7pjAqfF4

Read more about the webinar

News articles:

Farmworkers can’t pick apples through Zoom | published September 24, 2020 in KNKX following the webinar

El peso del COVID-19 en la población latina del estado de Washington | published September 23, 2020 following the webinar

COVID-19 Research

Understanding Washington Latinos’ Experiences around COVID-19

Principal Investigator: Dr. Leo Morales

In collaboration with Sea Mar Community Health Centers, this research study seeks to survey 500 urban and rural Latino patients across Washington State to better understand their experiences surrounding COVID-19, including experiences around health and wellbeing, housing, employment, immigration, safety, and attitudes towards vaccinations.

Findings will be disseminated in April 2021.

Codeveloping Culturally Relevant Messages for Farmworker Safety and Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic

A project to assess and address the need for public health messages dealing with the coronavirus outbreak and targeted to Latino immigrants in Yakima County received a UW Population Health Initiative COVID-19 rapid response grant in May 2020.

LCH co-director Dr. Gino Aisenberg is one of the team’s six co-investigators of the project, along with doctoral candidate Maria Blancas, Dr. Carmen Gonzalez, Dr. June Spector, Dr. Edward Kasner, and Elizabeth Torres from Northwest Communities Education Center and Radio KDNA

Partnering with the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) to Advance their Community Response Efforts

WAISN has assumed exemplary leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep immigrant and refugee families healthy through its COVID-19 community response efforts, including the statewide COVID-19 immigrant response hotline and online resource finder. LCH humbly offered WAISN its research and evaluation expertise and resources in community and solidarity to advance these efforts.

Under the leadership of Dr. Barbara Baquero and in partnership with WAISN representatives, a group of graduate students from Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and Social Work conducted an impact evaluation of WAISN’s COVID-19 immigrant response hotline to assess the reach and impact of this community response effort for program improvement and to inform future emergency efforts.

This group also participated in the WAISN healthcare access work group along with El Centro de la Raza, Northwest Health Law Advocates, and ACLU of Washington, and provided expertise in the development of a brief statewide survey to inform health equity for immigrants. This resulted in a campaign to increase access to healthcare services for immigrant communities.

Finally, this group of faculty and students helped WAISN boost its online resource finder by vetting healthcare organizations across the state that provide timely and adequate care for immigrants and refugees.

Other relevant news & peer-reviewed journal articles:

Understanding and Addressing Latinx COVID-19 Disparities in Washington State | published in 2020 by LCH affiliates Dr. Maggie Ramirez, Dr. Barbara Baquero, Dr. India Ornelas, Dr. Carmen Gonzalez, and Erica Chavez

Author: Mikaela Freundlich