By Thomas J. Rachko, Jr. and Sophia Benavente
Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to spotlight the importance of mental well-being for the country. Given that Latinos are projected to account for 1 in 4 people living in the United States by 2060, ensuring it is critical that we produce and share empirical findings on the unique mental health challenges and opportunities impacting this group. This data brief, produced by the GW Cisneros Institute, brings together insights on mental well-being and the US Latino population using empirical research, Census data and national surveys administered by the federal government. Unless otherwise noted, this brief primarily uses the most recently available 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which presents national estimates of substance use, mental health, and treatment in the US.
1. Latinos Living with Mental Illness are Less Likely than Other Groups to Receive Treatment
In 2023 - the most recent year in which data is available from the NSDUH - 55.1% of people living with mental illness aged 18 or older who are not Hispanic or Latino received mental health treatment in the past year compared to 47.4% of people who are Hispanic or Latino.
2. However, the Percentage of Latinos Living with Mental Illness who Receive Mental Health Treatment is Increasing
In 2022, 39.6% of Hispanic or Latino living with any mental illness, defined as “having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, other than a developmental or substance use disorder,” received treatment in the past year. In 2023, that number increased by nearly 8 percentage points to 47.4% of the Latino or Hispanic population living with mental illness receiving treatment.
3. Latino Adolescents are 28.6% less likely to receive treatment for a Major Depressive Episode than White peers.
According to a 2024 presentation by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), among the 1.2 million Hispanic or Latino adolescents aged 12 to 17 who had a major depressive episode (MDE, which SAMHSA notes “aligns with DSM-5 criteria, which specifies a period of at least 2 weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities and had a majority of specified depression symptoms) in 2023 – 50.9% received treatment in the past year compared to 67.9% of non-Hispanic White adolescents. Hispanic or Latino adolescents were also more likely to have a MDE than Black and Asian adolescents.
4. In 2023, 274,000 Latinos Aged 18 or Older Attempted Suicide in the Past Year, a 12% Increase from 2022.
From 2022 to 2023, the number of Hispanic or Latino people aged 18 or older who attempted suicide in the past year increased from an estimated 245,000 to 274,000 people representing a near 12% increase. Compared to other racial and ethnic groups, SAMHSA finds that Hispanic or Latino adults were just as likely to have attempted suicide as a percentage of the population compared to other groups.
5. Latinos Self-Report Being in Recovery from Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues at Higher Rates than Other Groups.
In 2023, 69% of Latino/Hispanic adults who reported having a mental health issue considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery. Among adults aged 18 and over in 2023, a greater percentage of Latino/Hispanic adults considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery compared to both White (68%) and Black/African American (60%) people.
Furthermore, 77% of Latino/Hispanic adults who ever perceived to have a substance use problem considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery. Likewise, a greater percentage of Latino/Hispanic adults considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery from a substance use problem compared to White (73%) and Black of African American (72%) people.
Conclusion
Latinos, like all groups across the country, face distinct challenges and opportunities when it comes to mental health. Empirical research on the mental health realities faced by communities can help create more effective responses that support their well-being and the well-being of our nation. In the spirit of the goals of Mental Health Awareness Month, to share resources and provide information for people who may be in need of mental health support, see the following tools provided by the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America.
Thomas J. Rachko, Jr. serves as a Translational Research Manager at the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute. He also serves as the Policy Lead at the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative. Thomas's views are his own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.
Sophia Benavente is a Cisneros Scholar majoring in Political Science and History. This summer, she is a Law and Policy intern at the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative. Last summer, she was Comunicadores intern at Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. Sophia's views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.