Suicide stigma remains a significant barrier to seeking help in Latino communities

The suicide rate for Latinos was the second highest at 21.4% in California alone, between 2016 and 2023, according to the Commission for Behavioral Health.

In observance of Suicide Prevention Month, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is sharing a vital message for Latino individuals: building strong connections with one another can play a key role in saving lives.

Statistics show that only one in five Latinos with psychological issues talk to a doctor and only one in 10 seek treatment from a mental health professional. This means that people in the Latino community often suffer in silence, which can exacerbate their mental health conditions.  

CALÓ News spoke to Dr. Denisse Centeno Lamas, AFSP former national board member, to discuss the unique mental health challenges facing Latino communities and the importance of suicide prevention, education and awareness.

Lamas is a licensed clinical social worker, mental health advocate, and suicide prevention leader with more than 20 years of experience serving diverse communities. She is the founder of Hispanic Family Counseling Inc., where she provides counseling services to individuals and families.

AFSP’s Talk Saves Lives is a vital program that introduces suicide prevention to Latino communities. Not only does it include a Spanish-language version, but also a Latino version.

Lamas shared that the program has proven to help communities better understand suicide prevention and recognize warning signs.

She shared that when she first started volunteering for AFSP in 2009, they hardly had any programs in Spanish that educated Latino communities on mental health and suicide prevention. She knew right away that, lacking those resources, she would not be able to raise awareness in her community. 

After bringing those concerns to the ASFP foundation, not only did they start promoting videos in Spanish, but they were also translating its educational materials and most recently launched a dedicated Spanish website. 

She shared that Talk Saves Lives is a program for clinicians, mental health providers, advocates, families, parents, students or anyone who is interested in saving a life.

“It’s really great to see that AFSP went above and beyond to make sure that it’s not only translated, but it’s culturally adapted so we can understand and be more receptive to it,” Lamas said. “If we ask the questions and if we see something and we listen carefully, we can definitely save a life."

The program highlights essential topics such as counseling, community building, faith, and immigration, demonstrating how these core elements directly influence an individual’s overall well-being. “I think these are very relevant, especially in today's atmosphere that we're living in,” Lamas said.

Latinos are impacted by the same mental health disorders as other communities, which include anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. With over 61 million Latino individuals living in the U.S., nearly 10 million of those people are living with mental health conditions, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.

Lamas explained that the most common warning signs leading to suicide that a family member, a friend, or even a loved one should be aware of are when an individual is talking about dying or wanting to die or not wanting to be present anymore. “We need to pay attention to that and take it seriously,” she said.

She highlighted several other warning signs to look out for, including pulling away from others or not wanting to go out. Changes in mood, such as depression, anxiety, hopelessness or helplessness, can also be important signs. Latino individuals may also engage in risky behaviors, such as reckless driving, drinking or using drugs more often, or giving away personal belongings.

She explained that active listening and validating a person’s feelings, rather than trying to solve their problems, is one of the most effective ways of helping an individual experiencing thoughts of suicide.

In recent years, increased stress, uncertainty and fear have contributed to a growing mental health burden for many Latino individuals. At the same time, stigma surrounding mental health and suicide remains a significant barrier to seeking help in the community. “Stigma is a huge deal within our community. I feel that we need to start seeing mental health as regular health, but the community sees mental health as something completely different. It’s like we believe that the brain is not here and that it belongs to something else when the brain is part of ourselves,” Lamas said.

She emphasized that getting involved with organizations and educating people who have positive roles in the Latino community is a start in initiating conversations around mental health and raising awareness.

“If we start training community members and provide them with the tools and educate them about the program, I think that we can make a huge impact in changing the mindset of the community,” Lamas said. “If you have the flu, you go to the doctor; if you have depression, you go to the mental health provider; if you have anxiety, then you go and get some help and see a psychologist. So it should be the same way; we should treat it the same way.”

Stigma is one of the biggest barriers surrounding mental health and illness that causes members of the Latino community to remain silent about mental health issues in fear of embarrassment or shame. Lamas noted that the perception that seeking support is strictly for “crazy people” frequently holds individuals back from accessing the help they need.

“I believe that normalizing the conversation can make a huge difference, and I have seen it personally; it demonstrates to others that they are not alone,” she said. “The more we talk, the more we can save lives because there is hope.”

If you are in crisis or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the suicide prevention hotline at (800) 273-TALK (8255). Individuals can also call and text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, which is available 24/7, free and confidential.