During the gloomy months of winter after the holidays, it is easy to feel depressed. Depression can take many forms and can be spurred by different situations. Although a difficult subject to discuss, suicide can stem from depression and also has a strong presence among Latinos. Latino/a suicide youth expert and Doctor of Psychology Theresa Rosner-Salazar shares her input with La Voz on signs of depression and suicide and why Latino/a youth are susceptible to such behaviors.
In the state of Colorado alone, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10-19. In particular in the Latino community, suicide attempts occur when one is younger than 18 years old according to Fortuna, Perez and Canino. Additionally according to Fortuna et al, “U.S.-born Latino adolescents are more likely to attempt suicide than are foreign-born Latino youths.” For Latinas specifically, the risk is even greater. According to the 2006 CDC report, adolescent Latinas are consistently twice as likely as Latinos to report suicide attempts. They also report high rates of feeling hopeless. Approximately one-third of Latina girls seriously contemplate suicide.
What do all these statistics mean and why is this rate so high within the Latino community in comparison to any other ethnic group? Rosner- Salazar notes that there is a stigma around talking about problems or depression and seeking mental health counseling within the community. Additionally, attempts may be related to conflicts with parents and trouble within culture. There may be conflicting messages in the home versus that of the majority culture that creates tension and pressure. Finally for Latinas, the differences in expectations in dating, sexuality and relationships can create problems with traditional behavior in the culture and at home.
The signs of depression are many. Latino/a youth may display physical symptoms such as
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