Mental Health in Older Latinos University of Texas - Pan American Funded by Master’s Advanced Curriculum Project University of Texas at Arlington The development of this learning module was made possible through a Gero Innovations Grant from the CSWE Gero-Ed Center’s Master’s Advanced Curriculum (MAC) Project and the John A. Hartford Foundation.

Latino Numbers in the U.S: True/False  Latinos are the smallest minority group in the U.S.  Latinos are only those people who are from Mexico.  Latinos are the fastest growing minority group in the U.S. 2 True False

Latino Numbers in the U.S.  Latinos are estimated to be at 44.3 million as of July 1, 2006 — 14.8% of the total U.S. population.  This reflects a 3.4% increase between July 2005, and July 2006 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2007). 3

Theories of Underutilizing Mental Health Care by Older Latinos  Language  Self-reliant Attitude  Religious Beliefs  Attitudes toward Mental Health Services (Vega & Alegria, 2001; Ortega & Alegria, 2002; Smart & Smart, 1991; Torrey, 1972) 4

Theories of Underutilizing Mental Health Care by Older Latinos (cont.)  Unfamiliarity with Mental Health Services  Current Practices  Familismo  Machismo  Respect (Karno, Ross, & Caper,1969; Vega & Alegria, 2001; Barrera & Jordan, 2009, in review) 5

Manifestation of Mental Illnesses in Older Latinos  Nervios  Mal de ojo  Susto  Espanto  Miedo (Barrera & Cavazos, 2009, in review) 6

The Use of Folk Healers in Older Latinos  curandero (folk healer)  espiritista (spirit medium) (Barrera & Cavazos, 2009, in review) 7

Assessment Tools For Older Latinos  Culturagram  Reasons for relocation  Legal status  Time in community  Language spoken at home and in the community  Health beliefs  Crisis events  Holidays and special events  Contact with cultural and religious institutions  Values about education and work  Values about family–structure, power, myths, and rules (Congress, E. 2004) 8

Assessment Tools For Older Latinos  The Alternative Lenses of Assessment  Situational-Environmental Lens  A Developmental-Adaptive Lens  Sociocultural Lens  A Political-Economic Lens  A Neuro-Biological Lens Satterly, B.,

Assessing Mental Illness in Older Latinos  Alonzo is a 65 year old Mexican-American. He is married and has 8 children ranging from ages years old. He states that he has been suffering from the following symptoms for several years: shaking, dizziness, and feelings of wanting to faint, heart trembles, chest pains, and having difficulty breathing. He also states that sometimes he feel as if he is going to die. 10

Assessing Mental Illness in Older Latinos  Maria is a 71 year old Mexican. She lives alone and is a widow of seven years. She claims that at night she sees and speaks with her deceased husband whom she was married to for 57 years. Her doctor believes she may be suffering from schizophrenia and wants to prescribe her medications. 11

Acceptable Interventions for Older Latinos  Cognitive Theory (Jani, Ortiz and Aranda, 2009) 12

Developing Trust in Older Latinos: Understanding Personalismo  Personalismo (Choca,1979) 13

Developing Trust in Older Latinos: Steps  A relationship is more important than tackling a problem.  Questions be sensitive and non-intrusive.  Social workers are encouraged to ask brief questions surrounding what is important to them.  Social workers should allow the elder Latinos feel as if they are the expert.  Praise should be given to their accomplishments; this does not have to be awards, educational, or money achievements, rather the ability to raise a large family on minimum wage. 14

Final Quiz  Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S.  Latinos may be from Puerto Rico.  Latinos are the slowest growing minority group in the U.S.  Older Latinos utilize mental health care the same as other groups.  Older Latinos may manifest mental health illness like everyone else.  Older Latinos may use folk healing to deal with their emotional problems. 15 True False