But as the National Alliance on Mental Health reports, Hispanics don’t have access to or receive the quality of care as the general population. This can leave Hispanics more at risk for serious and chronic forms of mental illness. According to the Surgeon General, only one fifth of Hispanics talk to their doctors about mental health problems they may be experiencing. Only one tenth of Hispanics consult a mental health practitioner if they have mental health issues.

They are a few reasons why this is so. Hispanics might not be fluent in English and are unable to find someone they feel comfortable confiding in or trusting. They also might be uninsured or underinsured and think mental health is a luxury. From a cultural standpoint, some Hispanics have greater faith in natural medicine than pharmaceuticals. Finally, their religious beliefs might have them put more faith in the power of spirituality over traditional medicine. All these factors make treating Hispanics for mental illness complicated and require special training for the mental health specialist.

The National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health has compiled a partial list of academic centers, doctoral and master’s programs that offer Hispanic behavioral health training. Here is their list:

Academic Centers

• Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology: The Center for Latina/o Communities

• The Chicago School of Professional Psychology: Center for Latino/a Mental Health and Latino/a Mental Health Concentration

Doctoral Programs

• Carlos Albizu University: Miami Campus

• Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology: Lucero Latino Mental Health Training Program

• Pacific University (Oregon) School of Professional Psychology: Latino Bilingual Track

• Texas A&M University: department of educational psychology

• University of Colorado Denver/School of Education and Human Development: bilingual school psychologist concentration area

• University of Texas at Austin: department of educational psychology

Master’s Programs

• Antioch University-Santa Barbara: master’s in clinical psychology (Latino Mental Health Concentration)

• The California School of Professional Psychology: Alliant International University Mexico City campus

• Montclair State University master’s in clinical psychology: optional clinical psychology for Spanish/English bilinguals concentration

• University of Miami department of educational and psychological studies: Certificate in Latino Mental Health Program. •

Sources: National Alliance on Mental Health

American Psychological Association; Monitor on Psychology journal; gradPSYCH magazine

National Science Foundation

Center for Workforce Studies

U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration

Research Policy

Nature Biotechnology

Penn State Center for Collegiate Mental Health

National Graduate Student Crisis Line

Thebestschools.org The Quad Blog

Grad Resources

American Council on Science and Health

“CNN Money”

The Atlantic