Heridas al Corazón: Quantitative Study on Suffering and Aversion to Mental Health

Abstract

This is a quantitative, Chi-Square study into the possible relationship between negative experiences, such as discrimination and humiliation, and the likelihood of seeking mental health services by Mexican monolingual Spanish-speakers. Sixty participants, 40 monolingual and 20 bilingual, selected randomly from three different locations in the Coachella Valley, completed a demographic profile which included experiences of emotional suffering, and involvement with mental health services. The monolingual Spanish-speaking participants reported experiencing instances of emotional suffering and reported they would still be willing to participate in mental health services. The information provided by the bilingual participants reflected a handful had experienced emotional suffering, yet, more than half expressed a lack of willingness to seeking services. One interesting finding was that while participants did not overall endorse these experiences of emotional suffering when seeking mental health, they did endorse them in encounters with other institutions that are considered fundamental to a person’s experience in a new environment, i.e. law enforcement and social services. It is important for mental health practitioners to consider the full impact of the client’s environment on their mental symptoms, including how difficult it may be to overcome obstacles and seek therapy services.