Psychiatr News November 4, 2005
Volume 40, Number 21, page 5
© 2005 American Psychiatric Association
APA Bridges Language Gap In Mental Health Information
Eve Bender
APA and NIMH are translating educational mental health materials into
Spanish to increase the reach of the message that treatment works.
APA is extending education on mental health issues to new populations
through a campaign that offers Spanish-language materials on the prevention
and treatment of mental disorders.
APA launched its Hispanic Mental Health Initiative in October to coincide
with Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the anniversary of independence
for several Latin American countries.
"It is critical that we address the mental health needs of Hispanic
and Latino Americans," said APA President-elect Pedro Ruiz, M.D., in an
October press release. "Creating resources and materials in Spanish is
an important step in helping to support the mental health of this segment of
the population."
The press release pointed out that nearly 40 million people in the United
States are of Hispanic or Latino origin.
The initiative is the newest component of APA's "Healthy Minds,
Health Lives" public-information campaign, which was launched in May
(Psychiatric News, May 6).
The materials can be downloaded for free through
HealthyMinds.org,
an APA Web site designed to provide the public with information on a wide
range of mental health topics. Among features on this Web site are the
following:
- Q & A with Ana Campo, M.D., who is chair of APA's Committee of Hispanic
Psychiatrists. This section provides statistics about mental health in
Hispanic/Latino populations and information about how to locate
Spanish-speaking psychiatrists, for example.
- Access to APA's "Let's Talk Facts" series of brochures, which
have been translated into Spanish. The brochures are designed for the public
and contain information on depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, common
mental disorders affecting children and adolescents, suicide, how to choose a
psychiatrist, and other topics.
- A link to another APA Web site,
ParentsMedGuide.org,
which offers a Spanish-language translation of scientific information and
practical advice for parents about depression in children and adolescents,
including a discussion of medication-related issues.
APA is not alone in its mission to raise awareness of mental health
problems among Spanish-speaking individuals.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has translated materials
from its "Real Men Real Depression" campaign into Spanish to help
Spanish-speaking men understand more about depression and encourage them to
seek treatment.
According to an October NIMH press release, 54 percent of Latino men who
have ever experienced at least one episode of major depression do not
recognize that they have a mental health problem.
The press release states that "Latinos also report reluctance to get
treatment for depression" because many fear that doing so will put their
jobs at risk.
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APA is hoping to raise awareness of and reduce stigma surrounding mental
illness in Spanish-speaking populations with its Hispanic Mental Health
Initiative.
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The new materials include booklets, brochures, and fact sheets from the
"Real Men Real Depression" campaign that have been translated into
Spanish and address the symptoms, treatment options, and challenges faced by
men with depression.
APA's Hispanic Mental Health Initiative materials are posted at
<www.healthyminds.org/hispanicmh.cfm>
and Spanish-language materials from the NIMH "Real Men Real
Depression" campaign are posted at
<www.menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/>
under the "publications" section. 
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American Psychiatric Association.
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