“Latinos don’t do mental health.”
I hear this phrase all the time, whether I’m in community, with clients, or even at family gatherings. And every time, I pause and think… What does that really mean?
Because the truth is, we don’t get to opt out of having a mind or a heart. Mental health isn’t something some people “do” and others don’t. We all have emotional lives. We all carry stress, joy, pain, and healing.
Over the years, I’ve realized that when people say “Latinos don’t do mental health,” what they really mean is:
- We weren’t taught to prioritize our emotional wellbeing.
- We didn’t grow up talking about feelings.
- And when we did try to talk about them, we were often met with silence, blame, or dismissal.
What we might hear from loved ones:
“Ponte a limpiar.”
“Es por estar tanto en el teléfono.”
“Échale ganas. No tienes por qué estar triste.”
Sound familiar?
These are the kinds of responses so many Latinx people hear when they open up about struggling. Instead of care and curiosity, we’re handed a broom or blamed for being “too sensitive.”
It’s not that our families don’t love us, because they do. But many were raised to survive, work hard, and put others first. Many of us were not taught to pause and process our emotions and experience, and we certainly were not taught to ask for help.
Mental Health in Our Real Lives
And yet… if we really stop and look around at our loved ones, we’ll see that Latinx people absolutely care for their mental wellness. We just might not call it that.
- The señora with all the houseplants? That’s mental health care.
- Your tía with her blooming jardín? That’s her version of self-care.
- You and your primos singing, laughing, and dancing all night? That’s connection. That’s joy. That’s healing.
Mental health doesn’t always have to look like therapy (though I definitely recommend it if you can swing it). It can be:
- Time in nature
- Prayer or spirituality
- Dancing in your kitchen
- Connecting with people who see you
- Listening to music that moves your soul
- Caring for your pets, your plants, or yourself
We’ve been tending to our wellness all along, just not always with the words for it.
Y Que?
Mental health isn’t just about diagnoses or crisis. It’s about how we live, love, recover, and care for ourselves and one another.
Yes, we still face real barriers, stigma, access, cultural expectations. But we also have so much wisdom and strength already inside our communities. The next step is being more intentional about it.
Ask yourself:
- What helps me feel grounded?
- Who makes me feel safe?
- What activities leave me feeling more like myself?
That’s your mental health care. Start there.
You’re Not Alone
If you’ve ever felt like you had to hold everything in… if you’ve ever been told you were being too much or not enough… please know: you’re not alone. You’re not weak. You’re human.
We might not have been taught to “do” mental health, but we’re learning. And healing is possible, especially when we do it together.