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Changing Minds, Advancing
Mental Health for Hispanics
Project
Abstract
The United States 2000 Census data highlighted
the rapid and ever-growing increase of people of Hispanic backgrounds in our country, while both the Surgeon General’s
Report, Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, and
the supplement to this report, Mental Health: Culture, Race, and
Ethnicity reported findings that Hispanics as a whole tended to
underutilize mental health services and were over-represented among
the nation’s most vulnerable, high-need groups such as the homeless
and incarcerated persons. The supplemental report stressed the importance
of addressing the disparity that exists surrounding access to and
quality mental health services provided to Hispanics, and urged our
nation to act to bridge the gap.
The initial report, Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon
General also recognized the interconnection between mental and
physical health and well-being. The NJMHI agrees with the Surgeon General that
mental health and mental illness are important concerns for all individuals
and has devised a national program to address the mental health needs
of the fast-growing, minority Hispanic population.
The New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc.,
an outgrowth of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies,
Inc. requested and was awarded a discretionary gift from the Eli Lilly
and Company Foundation for its two-year national anti-stigma and anti-discrimination
project, Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics. The funds awarded are being utilized to address the nationwide lack
of access to mental and behavioral health services among an under-represented
facet of the population – those of Hispanic descent.
The primary goal of Changing Minds, Advancing
Mental Health for Hispanics is:
To understand the belief systems, attitudes and barriers facing
the at-risk Hispanic population in need of mental health services
and to implement effective strategies to address identified barriers.
The objectives focus on in-depth research, which entails
a comprehensive literature review and conducting our own study; creation
of a model that includes best practices for mental health agencies
and clinicians; information dissemination in the form of a nationwide
quarterly newsletter, trainings and conference presentations; and
an evaluative component. The project also aims to heighten awareness,
understanding and acceptance of those with mental illness among the
Hispanic population and provide them with concrete ways to access
treatment services.
The initial objectives of the
project are:
- To
understand and overcome cultural barriers preventing individuals of
Hispanic backgrounds from seeking treatment through in-depth research,
which includes an extensive literature review and analysis; developing
surveys to utilize in field visits to at least 20 mental health
agencies in meetings with administrators to learn about their experiences
with servicing Hispanics, and during field visits to at least 20
mental health agencies to meet with direct service providers to
learn about their experiences working with Hispanics in clinical settings;
and to conduct at least five focus groups with Hispanics
from the four largest Hispanic ethnic groups in New Jersey (which
happen to be the four largest nationwide) to assess their belief systems,
attitudes and barriers with regards to mental health services;
- To
develop a model, including a curriculum incorporating best practices
for agencies and clinicians that reflects the needs and cultural preferences
of the Hispanic population, and provide the model to at least 1,500
mental health professionals nationwide;
- To create and disseminate a
nationwide quarterly newsletter to at least 500 agencies nationwide
to promote the model, share findings and enhance interest and ability
to increasing access to mental health services for Hispanics; and
- To
use a cohort of agencies and clinicians provided with the model as
an evaluative sample in order to study the effectiveness of the model.
Program Contact Person:
Henry Acosta, MA, MSW, LSW
Project Director
Changing Minds, Advancing Mental Health for Hispanics
(609) 838-5488, ext.205
Telephone (609) 838-5489
E-mail hacosta@njmhi.org
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