May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and so we spoke with Evelyn Hernandez, one of our great Bilingual Therapists, to see the importance of the department, how she became interested in mental health for immigrant Spanish-speakers, and the particular challenges faced by our clients in accessing services. 

How did you become a therapist, specifically focusing on working with immigrants and Spanish-speakers?

I was a teacher for a long time, and although teaching was a good profession, I always felt there was something else I should be doing. I realized I enjoyed helping students through the emotional issues they were facing, which gave me a clue that I should become a therapist. 

While I could do therapy in English, I felt that Spanish-speaking immigrants had much more need. Since I speak Spanish, I decided it would be more useful to use my skills with this group.

What needs do you see among our Spanish-speaking, immigrant clients?

We know that 1 in 5 people have a mental health diagnosis in the U.S. population overall. Right there is a significant amount of need. Then looking at our Spanish-speaking immigrant population we serve within our department, they face so many additional barriers in receiving mental health services. 

Many of our clients are uninsured, so accessing mental health care is very expensive. They may not have legal status or a Social Security number, so they often do not qualify for services or assistance that others might. My first-generation immigrant clients typically do not speak English, so it is crucial to have therapy in Spanish, and there are not many providers for that. The stigma of mental health often also creates a barrier as well.

What are some of the ways you work to break down these barriers within the Bilingual Mental Health Department?

All of our mental health services are fully bilingual, so clients can feel as comfortable as possible sharing their experiences. All our outreach information is in Spanish and English, and sharing that information with other service providers who serve immigrants helps. Our intake line and all our forms are bilingual, so clients feel confident we can serve them when they call and they can read documents in their own language. 

What are some of the ways you help accompany your clients in the program?

With the adult individuals we serve, a crucial aspect is accompanying our clients while navigating different systems, such as the school system. At the same time, supporting our clients in the process of raising children in a new country.

While conflict is inevitable in any parent-child relationship, many of our immigrant clients experience a double conflict