This Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re highlighting a program that is increasing access to mental wellness resources supporting Hispanic and Latinx caregivers throughout Providence Oregon.
The Fostering Emotional Resilience grant initiative focuses on supporting mental well-being by increasing mental wellness content and resources tailored to the needs of Hispanic and Latinx caregivers, as well as hosting mindfulness sessions facilitated in-person and virtually.
Since the launch of this initiative in 2023, more than 1,000 caregivers have been impacted.
“We are leading this effort in order to promote overall mental well-being through stress reduction practices and by expanding resources tailored specifically for our Latinx caregivers,” said Oscar Velasco Gonzalez, program manager, community health Oregon, who leads this initiative. They also serve as co-chair of the Providence Latinx Caregiver Resource Group (LCRG).
“We are establishing culturally safe spaces where our caregivers can openly share about their lived experiences. The fact that caregivers show up and engage in these programs shows the need and interest for spaces like this.”
Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States face unique challenges to accessing mental health care, including language barriers, cultural stigma associated with mental illness, less health insurance coverage, and a shortage of bilingual or linguistically trained mental health professionals. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 36.1 percent of Latinx adults who had a mental illness in 2021 received services, compared to 52.4 percent of whites.
“Through this initiative, we are working to bridge these gaps and address some of these challenges by increasing access and sharing resources in a culturally sensitive and relevant manner,” Velasco Gonzalez added.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, several new mental well-being resources have been developed such as an emotional health resource page and emotional health talks in Spanish. The new resources are being shared with caregivers via various channels including internal intranets and LCRG SharePoint sites, flier distribution, and at in-person wellness events. Additionally, in October 2023 and June 2024, mindfulness retreats were held in Portland.
“The retreat created a welcoming space for me to connect with our community. This mindfulness session helped me embrace the power of living in the moment, providing a sense of inner peace and calm, ” said Doris Moreno, pharmacy business systems analyst for Providence Health Plan.
“I’m grateful to have been a part of this initiative, and I’m looking forward to more opportunities to nurture my well-being and strengthen my bond with the community.”
In addition to developing well-being resources internally, collaborating with community organizations is also a key aspect of this initiative. The LCRG partnered with Raices de Bienestar, an organization based in Medford, Oregon, to provide guidance on delivering mental health programming in a more culturally and linguistically relevant manner.
“The Fostering Emotional Resilience initiative is having a significant impact on supporting the well-being of our caregivers,” said Anthony Herrington, executive director, community health engagement and community programs at Providence, Central Division.
“My heartfelt gratitude goes out to Doris and Oscar, the LCRG steering committee and all involved in creating culturally safe and responsive spaces while expanding mental wellness resources. Together, we are building a more inclusive and supportive community.”
View mental health resources available to help support Hispanic and Latinx communities: Spanish language mental health resources – Well Being Trust
Editor’s note: We are using the terms Hispanic and Latinx to refer to both language and geography.
