Among the Latino community in the United States, there is growing concern about the suicide rate of their individuals, particularly young people and children. The report entitled “A Look at the Latest Suicide Data and Change Over the Last Decade”, published by KFF, an independent source of research and news on health policies in the country, presents the data that demonstrate the rapid increase in the suicide among the so-called “people of color”.

A story published by NBC News, describes the support meetings led by America Gruner at a grocery store in Georgia, where community members share stories of mental health and suicide.

Community leader Gruner formed the group in response to a spate of suicides among Latino youth in the region. The suicide rate among Latinos/Hispanics in the U.S. has increased significantly over the past decade, with specific concerns about Hispanic school-age children. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation, with young people often taking on extra responsibilities in families where parents do not speak English, living in challenging financial situations, and facing cultural and language barriers when accessing mental health care.

The lack of access to mental health care is a widespread problem, especially for minority communities, and discrimination while seeking help, as evidenced in studies in California, adds additional obstacles. Cultural stigmatization regarding mental illness is also mentioned as a challenge, with the belief that seeking help is often discouraged.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s provisional data for 2022 shows a record high of nearly 50,000 suicide deaths for all racial and ethnic groups. Grim statistics from KFF show that the rise in the suicide death rate has been more pronounced among communities of color: From 2011 to 2021, the suicide rate among Hispanics jumped from 5.7 per 100,000 people to 7.9 per 100,000, according to the data. For Hispanic children 12 and younger, the rate increased 92.3% from 2010 to 2019, according to a study published in the Journal of Community Health”.

The data presented indicates an alarming increase in suicide rates among Hispanics, with a 55% increase in Georgia between 2018 and 2022. Lack of bilingual mental health professionals and prejudice are identified as additional obstacles. “Ser Familia, a social services organization in metro Atlanta, said it has seen alarming numbers of Hispanic children reporting suicidal thoughts”.

It is also important to note that, “Mental health experts said there are many social and economic pressures on minority groups. For Hispanics, cultural and systemic obstacles may also be at play. According to the Latino Community Fund Georgia, stress linked to immigration status has led to an increase in mental health problems”, according to NBC.

Due to the importance of addressing this mental health crisis, the federal government, in conjunction with the states, introduced 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022, and added a 988 text and chat service in Spanish. There is also a need for more funding for mental health in general, with prevention programs sensitive to cultural and linguistic needs.

Community leaders and mental health professionals suggest that a holistic approach, including more funding, increased awareness, and community support groups, is needed to tackle the problem.