Integrated Depression Care Among Latinos

Abstract

Cultural values and beliefs, including the reluctance to share personal problems outside of the family and disclose personal problems, a value on self-sufficiency, and stigma about mental illness create barriers to treatment engagement (Cabassa, Lester, & Zayas, 2007; Caplan et al, 2013; Interian, Martinez, Guarnaccia, Vega, & Escobar, 2007; Nadeem et al., 2007; Vega, Rodriguez, & Ang, 2010). Thus, it becomes essential to understand the barriers to treatment engagement and develop a roadmap to facilitate effective and quality care for Latino patients with depression. In this chapter we will walk you through the steps of effective care from: (1) recognition of and screening for depression; (2) understanding cultural barriers to treatment engagement; (3) strategies to improve treatment engagement; (4) providing evidence-based treatment; and (5) situating depression care within the appropriate social, economic, and political context. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)