VF2021 - Promotores & Psychologists Address Stigma & Barriers to Mental Health

Presented by Ruth Zúñiga, Pacific University; Delfina Hernandez-Morales & Claudia Ramirez, Providence Health and Services

Latinxs experience significant barriers to mental and emotional health. In an effort to remove these barriers, a partnership between a graduate psychology program and a hospital community health program was created. This partnership includes a)offering mental health trainings for promotores de salud and b)delivering community charlas. The goals of the trainings are to increase the knowledge, comfort and skills of promotoresto address community emotional needs. The charlas’ aims are to start conversations about mental health, to reduce stigma and to connect community members with mental health resources. The trainings are taught in Spanish by bilingual bicultural mental health professionals, using popular education methods and emphasize applicable skills, self-care, community empowerment and access to resources. Upon completion of the training, promotores and students co-lead charlas about emotional wellness on how to take care of one’s family and community. Since the pandemic, this program transitioned to online community friendly platforms.