Deepening Mental Health Supports for Underserved Communities

Deepening Mental Health Supports for Underserved Communities

April 2, 2025

For those of us brought up within Latinx/Hispanic culture, it’s common to believe focusing too hard on your mental wellbeing makes you “loco.” It’s practically tradition to prioritize the needs of others before our own. This mindset can often leave us in a mental rut. Case in point: 35.1 percent of Latinx adults with mental illness receive treatment each year as compared to the U.S. average of 46.2.

But stigma is just one of the barriers our community faces to getting their mental health in order. Others are more tangible: Language barriers, poverty, lack of health insurance, cultural competence, acculturation, legal status. 

Here at St. Joseph Center, we’re doing our best in West LA to remedy this malaise through a special program called Animo. In addition to providing traditional health services (counseling, medical, dental and vision care referrals, psychiatric treatment and spiritual guidance) Animo separates itself by tapping into non-traditional therapy groups to grapple with the diverse needs within our population.

The word Ánimo is not easily translatable but there are a number of English words that, together, help capture it: Encouragement; vitality; purpose; or, my favorite, spirit, which our specialized, culturally-competent groups do their best to embody. On the surface, these sub-programs resemble support groups but they also teach skills such as mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy coping skills, and they provide a space for inner healing.

Many of those we work with are undocumented or have mixed-status family members. At a time of deep anxiety in a changing political landscape, the work we do through Animo is more vital than ever. We provide support for clients and families that are dealing with economic stress, perceived discrimination, and acculturation issues. When we build trust through our special groups, clients feel safe to be vulnerable and actually ask for the help they need, whether its through our program or another.

Client Testimony: “Yo ha podido conectar con mi niña interior y pedir perdón y amar me a mi misma.” (I have learned to connect with my inner child, ask for forgiveness, and love myself for me.)

Client Testimony: “El Duel va y viene y ha aprendido como vivir y no sobre vivir.” (The grief comes in waves and I have learned to live and not just survive.)

Client Testimony: “Zumba me a ensenado que es importante dar se un tiempo a uno mismo para nuestra salud mental.” (Zumba has taught me the importance of taking time for oneself and engaging in self-care related activities for mental health.)