Psychiatric Care for the Hispanic Immigrant Population in the United States

Abstract: By 2022, of the 63.6 million people in the United States (US) who self-identified as Hispanic or Latino, 68 percent (43.2 million) were native born and 32 percent (20.4 million) were immigrants. Immigrants face unique stressors that may contribute to mental health struggles (e.g. depression, anxiety, PTSD), especially related to migration and trauma.

In this Hispano-American SIG/Caucus sponsored general session, Dr. Galindo-Donaire will discuss his work as a C-L psychiatrist conducting evaluations for the immigrant Hispanic population, as a consultant for the relocation program under the mental health department for The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a leading organization within the United Nations system.

Moreover, undocumented immigrants face excruciating circumstances during their travel and often undergo traumatic experiences in the immigration process. Dr. Garces-Grosse will present the Program for Survivors of Torture (PSOT), offering a multidisciplinary model encompassing medical, psychiatric, legal, and social support. This holistic approach aims to facilitate immigrants' adjustment to their new environment, addressing their complex needs and promoting their well-being. Furthermore, adapting to life in the U.S. presents further challenges, compounded by limited access to mental healthcare, which can be impacted by multiple factors such as inequity, mental health stigma, language barriers, lack of access to medical insurance, misdiagnosis, and legal status. U.S. mental health services are less used by immigrants, despite their increased need, especially among immigrant men, the uninsured, and the undocumented. Dr. Padilla will discuss the social determinants of mental health and barriers to care encountered in academic inpatient CL settings and what resources can be utilized to better serve Hispanic immigrants in the US in need of consultation-liaison psychiatry services and community resources.

Despite the availability of life-saving treatments, Hispanic immigrants often face significant barriers to accessing medical care. When addressing the healthcare needs of immigrant populations in the United States, it's crucial to recognize the unique obstacles confronting Hispanic patients following a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Rueda-Lara will provide a psycho-oncological perspective and explore the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients undergoing treatment. These challenges encompass insufficient care coordination for both practical and psychosocial support, alongside the added strain of stress resulting from systemic sociopolitical factors, including immigration issues in their countries of origin and the US. While Hispanic family dynamics can provide invaluable support during treatment, stringent immigration policies frequently impede the ability to reunite with family members who could offer vital assistance.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key stressors contributing to mental health struggles among Hispanic immigrants, including factors related to migration and trauma.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of multidisciplinary models in addressing the complex needs of Hispanic immigrants and promoting their adjustment to a new environment.