Latina/o American Health and Mental Health: Practices and Challenges • ABC-CLIO

Essential reading for health and mental health administrators, community agencies, and policy makers as well as students and general interest readers, this book details the state of the physical and mental health of many Latina/o American groups.

While Latina/o Americans originate from more than 25 countries, most health or mental health texts largely focus on Mexican Americans and often fail to address other Latina/o groups, such as South Americans, Central Americans, Puerto Ricans, and others. Moreover, most works address either health or mental health, but not both together. In contrast, Latina/o American Health and Mental Health addresses both the health and mental health of diverse Latina/o heritage groups.

An interdisciplinary approach enables readers to identify both similar and divergent areas that affect the health and mental health of Latina/o Americans. Strengths-based and social justice perspectives, rather than a deficit perspective, guide the work in its assessment of disparities among treatment for different groups.

This text is ideal for graduate students, practitioners, researchers, and policy makers in public health, community health, family studies, psychology, counseling, social work, and Latina/o studies who are interested in understanding Latina/o health and mental health in the United States and providing culturally responsive services.

Features

Examines the prevalence of psychological disorders and chronic physical diseases among various Latina/o groups in the U.S.
Reviews culture-specific treatments and community efforts to improve mental health
Discusses spiritual and indigenous practices such as Curanderismo, Santeria, and Espiritismo and their applications to health and mental health
Provides recommendations for eliminating barriers to health and mental health care for individuals belonging to Latina/o groups

Leticia Arellano-Morales, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of La Verne, La Verne, CA. She is coeditor of The Handbook of Chicana/o Psychology and Mental Health and Mexican Psychology: Indigenous, Colonial, and Post-Modern Contributions. She is also a trainer and consultant for the CBMCS Multicultural Training Program.

Erica T. Sosa, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Health, and Nutrition at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research interests include examining structural, cultural, and psychosocial contributors to the onset of obesity and diabetes among minority populations. She has published research in journals including Health Education and Behavior, Health Promotion Practice, Health Behavior and Policy, and Academic Pediatrics.

Features

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