Mental Health Resources for Latinx and Hispanic Communities

Each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15.

AFSP is passionate about reducing suicide and promoting mental health awareness among Latinx and Hispanic individuals — not only this month, but all year round.

In recognition of this important month, we encourage you to use and circulate the following list of national mental health and suicide prevention resources focused on supporting Latinx and Hispanic communities.

This list has been reviewed for accuracy, mental health and community content, and ease of use. It is not intended to be exhaustive, and AFSP welcomes the opportunity to review and add other resources.

National Resources:

• National Alliance for Hispanic Health works to ensure that health incorporates the best of science, culture, and community. They achieve this by listening to the individual; investing in leading, community-based organizations; working with national partners; examining and improving the resources and systems available; and designing solutions to make health a part of each person’s life. They continually work to improve the quality of care and its availability to all.

• SanaMente/Each Mind Matters is California’s mental health movement. They are millions of individuals and thousands of organizations working to advance mental health. They offer a website full of culturally focused information on mental health in Spanish.

• The National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) is pleased to collaborate with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to provide new fact sheets on Suicide Prevention Amongst Hispanics and Latinos to download and distribute. This fact sheet has been translated from English to both Spanish and Portuguese.

• The National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA) was established to fill a need for a unified national voice for Latino populations in the behavioral health arena and to bring attention to the great disparities that exist in areas of access, utilization, practice-based research, and adequately trained personnel.

• Comunilife’s unique Life is Precious™/La Vida es Preciosa program helps to prevent suicide among young Latinas — the teen population with the highest rate of suicide attempt in the country. Life is Precious™ combines individual and group counseling, arts therapy, academic support, and nutritional and fitness activities. Psychiatric services are provided by partnering clinics.

• Founded in 1974, MANA, A National Latina Organization® is a national grassroots membership organization with chapters, individual members, and affiliates across the country. MANA represents the interests of Latina women, youth, and families on issues that impact our communities. MANA contributes the leading Latina voice on many of the major issues in the public sphere, particularly in the areas of education, health and well-being, financial literacy, equal and civil rights, and immigration reform.

• Therapy for Latinx is a new online database that makes it easy for Latinx people to find mental health professionals in their own communities. Therapy for Latinx is easy to use for both mental health professionals and people seeking mental health treatment. If you are looking for a therapist, you can search the database via state, or add keywords if you are searching for a special focus. Therapy for Latinx is available in both English and Spanish, and offers free online mental health screenings in partnership with Mental Health America. You can find them on Instagram as @therapyforlatinx.

• Help Advisor used federal data from the U.S. Census Bureau to find that 3.8 million Hispanic Americans aren't getting the mental health care services they need. This report explores the issue, including expert public health analysis and local Spanish-language resources to help serve Latino Americans. This resource is also available for English-language speakers who would like more information.