¡STAT!

Changing Immigration in the United States: Will this have an Impact on Hispanic Health?

2008-04-11T12:52:00.001-07:00

Last week, my focus was the potential health problems Californian children are facing during this climate of astronomical state budget cuts. Currently, the government’s role in the lives of Hispanics is increasing, especially during this time when transition is imminent. This week, I continue my exploration of the blogosphere in search of innovative and informative blogs that address topics of interest that are important to the Latin American/Hispanic communities. My examination has led me to two works that tackle the topic of immigration in the United States and some of the repercussions with which it is associated. The first post, titled “Central American Migrants Reportedly Facing Increased Dangers,” comes from Deborah Bonello, a writer for the Los Angeles Times blog titled La Plaza. In it, Bonello speaks about the harsh journeys illegal travelers face when migrating from Central America through Mexico to their final destination in the United States. Published April 10, 2008, the author makes a reference to Special Order 40, a police mandate implemented in the 1980’s to prevent LAPD officers from obtaining the immigration status of detained suspects. It was passed in hopes of encouraging illegal residents to report crimes without fear of being punished. However, critics of the mandate believe that it prevents criminals, such as gang members, from receiving quick deportation. The second post titled, "Health Care for Hispanics Stays Steady," comes from Aileen Streng, writer for the Potomac News on InsideNoVa.com. On March 21, 2008, Streng states that the health clinics of Prince William County, Virginia have not seen a decline in the amount of patients, most of whom are typically Hispanic, even during recent crackdown against illegitimate residency in the state. My responses to both author’s posts can be viewed below as well as on each respective blog.

My Response to:
“Central American Migrants Reportedly Facing Increased Dangers”

Deborah Bonello,

First off, I would like to thank you for your informative and timely post. It is wonderful to read a blog that stresses the importance of issues concerning the Hispanic and Latin American communities. The fact that you decided to begin your piece with a mention of Special Order 40, really ties in this story with something that is significant to many Californians. Based on other posts that I have read on La Plaza, I have realized that many Los Angeles residents reserve strong sentiments regarding the issue of immigration. Relating this story about Central American immigrants to the buzz surrounding the LAPD, in my opinion, strengthens the appeal of your work. I appreciated the poignant observations you make about the tragic deaths that are taking place due to harsh conditions Central American migrants face in Mexico (pictured below to the right). Although your post served as an informative commentary, it could have been even more interesting to read your perspective on the case at hand. The sheer irony that undocumented Mexicans expect better treatment than the illegal travelers who pass through their own country is enough to spark a colorful debate. Also, since Special Order 40 deals directly with the possibility of deportation from the United States, do you believe is it likely to cause a chain reaction in minimizing relocation to other countries? You make reference to Olga R. Rodriguez who wrote, “Despite efforts to secure its own southern border, Mexico doesn’t try to stop its own citizens from crossing north”. I was able to locate and read her expose on newsvine.com. The parallels Rodriguez draws between the situations that Mexican and American citizens are facing, in terms of undocumented refugees, shines a light on the hypocrisy of the Mexican government. On one hand, the horror stories that accompany these travelers, which are enough to inspire nightmares, have not seemed to deter the amount of people that risk their lives in hopes of a better one. On the other hand, according to your piece, it seems that these stricter laws in Mexico are causing a decrease in migration to the country. Is this indicative of what the American government will have to resort to in order to see a significant change? These are just a few questions you may consider addressing in future posts.

My Response to:
“Health Care for Hispanics Stays Steady”

Aileen Streng,

I would like to start off by thanking you for writing about such an important topic, not only for Hispanics but for Americans in general. The increased attention surrounding relocation in the United States has definitely had a dramatic impact in this country, especially during the presidential elections. I was surprised to read that the health clinics in Prince William County are not experiencing a decline in the amount of patients they are seeing (pictured above to the left), particularly because of the current interest concerning Special Order 40 in Los Angeles. Recently, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been trying to crackdown on gang violence in the city. Many critics believe that eliminating Special Order 40 will strikingly reduce the possibility of criminals unlawfully residing in California . It seems that many illegitimate residents are nervous about drawing any kind of attention to themselves, which is significantly evident when they refuse to seek medical attention. Hispanics often steer clear of the doctor’s office for chronic illnesses such as hypertension and elevated blood glucose, but with this increase of risks associated with the act of immigration, avoiding the doctor can be even more dangerous than ever. It is reasonable to predict that there will be changes in the resettlement laws in this country with the inauguration of a new leader. Do you believe these changes will make hospitals and clinics safe havens for those who are essentially being banished? Or will doctors be forced to interrogate their patients before medical attention is provided? It is interesting when you mention, "the health district and Potomac Hospital are seeing a decline in patients [in] their prenatal clinics", while the overall amount of patients being seen has remained relatively stable. Although health care officials do not offer an explanation for this decline, do you believe that this could be attributed to the increased enforcement working against illegal immigrants? Whatever the outcomes may be, it is important to realize that major changes are likely to take place in the near future. The real task is to figure out exactly how these changes will affect Americans on a personal level, whether for ourselves or within our families.

"Hasta La Vista, Baby": California Public School Budget Cuts May Influence Children's Health

2008-04-06T10:39:00.001-07:00

Many studies have been conducted exploring the benefits of exercise on health. It comes to no surprise that physical activity can prevent chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. If the advantages of exercise and a healthy diet are common knowledge, should not the government be more involved in promoting this type of lifestyle? For some children it is important to learn positive nutritional habits in school, especially when bad tendencies have been developed at home. Unfortunately, due to astronomical budget cuts for public education in California, a good number of young people’s health is suffering. In the long run, they grow up to be adults with fitness problems that teach their poor decisions to future generations. Although this is a topic that is of concern to all families with children in public schools, it can be especially important for minority families who may not be well educated about healthy alternatives.

Recently, Newsweek published a story titled “Six Worst Kid Health Habits.” In the article, Daniel Stone lists six unhealthy choices parents essentially allow their children to develop at home. The author makes reference to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), which is a self-proclaimed research-led think tank that reports at least 155 million school-age adolescents worldwide are overweight or obese. Among other regions, the IOTF draws attention to the dramatic increase in obesity among youth in England. Additionally, the article highlights the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), which conducted research in 2007 that linked exercise among kids with an increase in school performance. In a study titled “Exercise Improves Thinking, Reduces Diabetes Risk in Overweight Children,” Dr. Catherine Davis discusses the benefits she found when exposing 200 overweight, inactive adolescents to physical activity. Researchers state, "Aerobic exercise training showed dose-response benefits on executive function (decision-making) and possibly math achievement, in overweight children." Dr. Davis goes on to say that she hopes results like these convince policy makers to require rigorous activity to be a part of every student’s daily routine.

Not only did the MCG study acknowledge a link between exercise and improved thinking, they also found a decrease in insulin resistance, a precursor for diabetes, among subjects who were assigned to the 20 or 40 minute/day exercise condition. The take-away message from all of this is that physical education programs in schools need to be fast paced and consistent enough in order for students to achieve the multifaceted benefits of exercise within the school day. According to the aforementioned article in Newsweek, parents are not doing a good job of instilling healthy habits at home, which makes it important for children to exercise during school hours. A few of the six bad habits parents teach their sons and daughters include eating in front of the television, watching too much television and eating prepackaged foods. Because of this reality, school is considered to be a great place to address poor eating habits as well as insufficient amounts of physical activity and to teach nutritional alternatives. This can prove to be more helpful for Hispanic families who may lack the proper education to promote healthy lifestyles. What happens when education budget cuts remove programs dedicated to providing the physical activity so many students need?

Nationwide, most states are trying to make ends meet by making budget cuts wherever possible. In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured to the left) has already implemented a $400 million reduction for public school and community college education throughout the state. Additionally, a $4.8 billion cut for K-12 education was proposed earlier this year to the shock of many Californians. With such a large decrease, it is foreseeable that almost every program will be affected, including nutrition and physical education. In late February, KQED public radio host Rachael Myrow spoke with Jill Wynns, member of the San Francisco board of education, about the local government’s work to preserve S.L.A.M. programs (Sports, Libraries, Arts and Music). Although some school districts may have established private funding streams in order to keep their sports and music programs alive, this is not the case for every school in California. School districts, preparing for 2008-2009’s budgets, have already been forced to consider staff cuts. The New York Times states that, "the Alameda school district in Northern California, trustees voted to reduce the $83.7 million budget by cutting $200,000 to the sports programs, eliminating music programs for all children below fourth grade and increasing class sizes in ninth grade to an average of 29 students, up from 20." When fears of a recession circulate, it is hard to believe that the remaining enrichment programs, such as sports and health education, will be effective when hundreds of teachers are being laid off.

Overall, it is the students that suffer the long lasting effects of these budget cuts, whether it is education or health-wise. While parents blame the school system for cutting sports programs and health education and the government blames parents for neglecting their children’s eating habits, youth continue to battle their weight and the dangerous effects of being unhealthy. Time and time again, the research supports the idea that exercise and a well balanced diet is crucial in avoiding many of the nation's most prevalent diseases. For some families, the budget deficit will encourage better decisions to be implemented at home, but for those who are unfamiliar with these choices, including many minorities, physical education cuts will prove to be detrimental to young people's current and future health.

Exploring Cyberspace Part Two: Ten More Linkroll Additions

2008-03-28T16:38:00.001-07:00

This week I continue my cyberspace exploration in hopes of finding even more resources aimed toward health-care issues in the Latin American and Hispanic communities. Once again, this post will serve as an introduction of ten new features in my linkroll, which is located to the left of the screen. Presenting brief, yet critical evaluations of these websites based on criteria implemented by Webby Awards, I will use this post to demonstrate a sense of the multitude of helpful information available on the internet that spotlights minority health issues.

I have chosen to evaluate each recently added item as it appears in alphabetical order in my linkroll. The first link this week comes from the American Diabetes Association, which not only serves as a wonderful tool to find information on diabetes, but also includes a Latino component aimed specifically toward the Hispanic community. With segments such as “Recipe of the Day” and “For Your Family” (“Por Tu Familia”), the site is accommodatingly interactive. Next on the linkroll is the Arizona Department of Health Services Office of Boarder Health. Gathering information about immigration and healthcare, both of which are hot topics this election year, may demonstrate to be essential in understanding the Latin American culture. Although the home page is less than captivating, the large amount of detailed information, including numerous studies, appear to be quite beneficial. Another site with interesting and current data on Latinos comes from the Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research. Even though it could use an update in terms of its appeal, this should not deter visitors from browsing the valuable research and resources tabs. An additional linkroll item that supplies interesting studies is called Health Consequences of Mexican Migration to the United States. One minor drawback is that the data is not as current as would be expected. Another negative aspect is that many of the publications are not offered for download. Overall, MexMaH.com can be used as a stepping-stone to more helpful and current research sites. One of the better additions this week, from the National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc., was a lucky discovery. Not only is it surprisingly full of interesting background information about the organization, but it also includes useful segments like “Monthly Topics” that address issues such as asthma and tuberculosis. The subsequent item is not directly aimed at the Hispanic community but can be functional because it focuses on minority health. Even though it can be helpful, the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities’ lack of organization and appealing design hinders its overall effectiveness. The next adjunct is presented by the National Council of La Raza. This organization states that they are an advocacy and civil rights group, but the health section of their site is definitely worth visiting. Furthermore, because health is not their only concern, visitors may also be inclined to browse other sections, such as Immigration and Education, as well. Padres Contra el Cancer or Parents against Cancer (pictured above) offers one of the most attractive overall experiences. With support from Hispanic stars like Eva Longoria and Beto Cuevas it may appear as if the experience may lack substance. Fortunately, the array of resource links, including government links, proves to be helpful. Next comes an item from the Pew Hispanic Center. Priding itself on research concerning Latinos, the organization exhibits topics such as Politics and Education. The health element under the resources tab is also a practical component. The fact that the site is updated often makes this a great appendage to the linkroll. Lastly, the Office of Minority Health page, which is a constituent of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services site, provides visitors with numerous links to services and campaign/initiative information. Overall, the navigability is both user-friendly and useful. Hopefully my entire linkroll will be a positive asset for my readers as they continue to read my blog. I look forward to making use of these websites in future posts.

Excessive Amounts of Television Ads and Obesity: Precursors for Diabetes among Hispanic Children?

2008-03-09T14:02:00.001-07:00

This week I am delving back into the topic of diabetes, which seems at the forefront of health issues for many people around the country, not just Hispanics. Diabetes is a very serious disease that affects people of all ethnicities. The reasons it has become so prevalent among Hispanics and Latinos are three-fold; genetic, socioeconomic and cultural. Anyone with a family history of diabetes is at a higher risk of developing the disease in their lifetime. Although genes can serve as warning signs, they do not set the future in stone. There are many factors that can influence the development of the illness. Diseases such as diabetes can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. The fact that many Hispanics and Latinos come from low income families affects the amount of resources available to them not only in terms of their healthcare but also in terms of education and nutrition. It seems that these days, more and more organizations are trying to spread the word to minorities about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Not only are groups providing more information, many try to provide free services to underserved communities. For example, Community Health Involvement Project (CHIP), which is a student run organization at the University of Southern California that I am a member of, sets up weekly health sites in locations around the Los Angeles area to provide blood pressure and blood glucose screenings. For those who present risk factors for serious diseases, such as high blood pressure or high blood sugar, a list of local free clinics is made available. These resources are offered to members of the surrounding neighborhoods in hopes of identifying and controlling prevalent but preventable diseases such as diabetes. The culturally influenced lifestyle Hispanics/Latinos adopt has become a major issue that affects the incidence of diabetes. It is difficult for Hispanics to implement the information they are provided if they refuse to change their diets and other unhealthy habits. For many Latinos/Hispanics food is a staple in their culture. In this blog I will discuss current research that may shed a new light on the cultural aspects surrounding diabetes among Hispanics, especially Hispanic children.

An article presented February 19, 2008 on Reuters.com discussed the findings of a study that suggests that the numerous amounts of fast food ads on Spanish-language television have an impact on obesity among Hispanic children. The study conducted by Johns Hopkins Children's Center reviewed 60 hours of television aired between 3-9pm on Univision and Telemundo (whose logo can be seen in the graphic above). Researchers found that the channels aired an average of three food commercials per hour, one-third of them targeted to a child audience. Nearly half of all the food commercials were promoting fast food. Researchers acknowledge that their study does not claim that television is the sole cause of obesity among Hispanics. However, they do believe that it is an important topic to address in every household. This study highlights the everyday implications that culture may have on Spanish speaking communities. Unfortunately, researchers did not compare their data to what is being aired on English-language television. Also, it would be interesting to see how many of those commercials are of American based companies such as McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Domino's Pizza. The important thing is that families become aware of the messages that are being brought into the home through television, which is an important aspect of many American children's lives.

Many people may ask, "What is so important about studying everyday influences on obesity?" A recent article presented on HealthDay.com discusses a study that has linked obesity to early risk factors for diabetes among Hispanic children. The study conducted by the Joslin Diabetes Center recruited 38 Hispanic children between the ages of 10-18. What researchers found was that the children with higher body fat percentages showed early signs of insulin resistance, as well as inflammation of the blood vessels. In this study researchers were concerned with the development of type II diabetes in participants. Normally, the pancreas produces sufficient amounts of insulin which serve to control the transport of glucose from the blood to the cells of the body. In type I diabetes patients, the body's own immune system destroys the cells that would normally produce insulin. Alternatively, people with type II diabetes either do not secrete enough insulin or the body does not efficiently use the insulin that is being secreted. The latter is defined as insulin resistance. When the body does not recognize insulin, the glucose is not transported to the cells in the body to provide energy but instead remains in the blood stream. This accounts for diabetics' high levels of glucose in the blood. Through research, it has been suggested that being over-weight or obese can have a severe impact on insulin responsiveness in the body. Also, losing weight and maintaining an active lifestyle can improve the body's ability to recognize and use insulin efficiently. Additionally, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are associated with obesity, are linked to diabetes as well.

The take away message in all of this research is that everyone, not just Hispanics/Latinos, need to take control of their health and their family's health. It is important to learn and teach families how to adopt a healthy lifestyle at an early age. It is time to stop acting irresponsibly and believing that children can and should eat whatever they want. The fact is that if children are educated about eating healthy at a younger age, it will become easier for them to successfully implement these lessons throughout their lives. It is important for every family to be aware of the risk factors and causes of diabetes, but especially those ethnic groups that are at a higher risk of developing the disease (e.g. African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Japanese Americans). Websites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, offer families wonderful resources that may help in their battle against unhealthy lifestyle choices.

An Exploration of Cyberspace: Ten Linkroll Additions

2008-03-03T15:03:00.001-08:00

This week I continue my exploration of cyberspace in search of exceptional resources aimed toward my topic of interest; health care issues in the Latin American and Hispanic communities. This post will serve as an evaluation of the ten new items I have added to my linkroll. These evaluations will be based on criteria per Webby Awards and Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA).

As an extension of a larger website, the Latino resources web page of the Alzheimer's Association satisfies many of the criterion listed by both Webby and IMSA. The content, both educational and engaging, is accompanied with interactive features such as, "What's Happening to Grandpa?". This allows for a comprehensive look at the growing incidence of Alzheimer's in the Latino community. The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, which is a partner of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (pictured on the right), presents a website that is, although informative and educational, visually lacking. The site offers several web pages for various minority groups, including Latinos. Every web page includes helpful links to fact sheets about prevalent diseases in each subsequent community. The Hispanic Dental Association web site offers several useful links and resources concerning dental hygiene in both English and Spanish. Unfortunately, the site could be aesthetically more pleasing in terms of navigation (i.e. the hyperlinks are poorly organized and can be misleading). One benefit of exploring an organization's web site is that it allows the visitor to explore the possibility of becoming more involved in the cause by applying for membership. The Hispanic Health Council, which boasts more than 25 years of serving the community, definitely has the credentials to put forth an effective web site. Unfortunately, the lackluster appearance and rather boring design overpowers the interesting studies presented. Through much navigation and frustrated exploration, the Latino Health Institute website came up short in terms of relevant information. The less than interactive design of the site made the overall experience unmemorable. Like many of the websites on this list, Medline Plus provides a Latin American web page in conjunction with their main website. The large array of useful links including healthy Latino recipes and recently updated "Current News" section redeems the average looking design of the site. Once getting passed the overwhelming amount of graphics on the homepage, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health site was surprisingly well developed. The site presents excellent, as well as up to date, resources (i.e. Health News). The National Latino Behavioral Health Association provides useful information and links to outside sources. The fact that it has not been updated for two years hinders the effectiveness of the site. The unappealing page layout/design would also benefit from an update. Salud En Accion displays some excellent publications that are helpful in understanding public health promotion and health research among Hispanic populations. They offer a long list of scientific articles, which are relevant and useful in understanding the aforementioned fields. The Latino Organization for Liver Awareness website exhibits useful information for those seeking resources on diseases affecting the liver. They also have an updated list of support group meetings. The main problem with this site is the lack of links in sections such as the "Resources" tab.

After last week's frustrating episode searching for blogs, I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of helpful websites dedicated to the health concerns of the Latin American and Hispanic communities. I look forward to implementing these sites along with others in future posts.

Current Research and Marketing: Hispanics Are Struggling with Diabetes

2008-02-18T18:03:00.000-08:00

Last week I brought to light a story that explored the high percentage of suicide attempts among Hispanic teen girls. I was fascinated by the idea that psychological research is taking a more multi-cultural approach in its design. Since psychology has been a predominantly white American field of research, it is crucial to take what has been discovered and investigate the effects of culture on current and past data. In conjunction with this idea, I wanted to investigate other research areas in hopes of finding cross cultural data being gathered. This week I chose a topic that a few other bloggers focused on this week as well, diabetes. The first post I came across was entitled "Hispanics Have More Difficulty Controlling Diabetes Than Non-Hispanic Whites", published by expert marketer Juan Tornoe, whose topics of interest are aimed to serve the Hispanic community. His most recent post regarding Hispanic health issues on his blog titled Hispanic Trending, presents a recent study, more specifically a meta-analysis, which provides evidence that Hispanics have a harder time controlling their diabetes when compared to other ethnic groups. The article he provides a link to states that this trend can be explained by the fact that many Hispanics come from low income families. Because of this, they are unable to afford regular check ups or the medication to control their disease (see image above). The second post I found was entitled, "Colorful New Glucometers Hit the Diabetes Market". This post was published by writer and photographer, Sean Kelley, whose blog can be found on Health.com's "Poked and Prodded" section of the site. Kelley's post presents a new product meant to make the diabetic's life a little bit more glamorous (see image below). I chose to comment on this post in hopes of gathering a follow-up from the author in terms of how products like these affect the low income minority population struggling with diabetes. I offer my comments to these posts below as well as on each author's individual blog.

"Hispanics Have More Difficulty Controlling Diabetes than Non-Hispanic Whites"
My Response:

I would first like to thank you not only for this informative post but also for your overall blog. I found it not only interesting but thought provoking as well. I am excited that there is such a current and up to date forum that addresses topics of marketing and health that are relevant to Hispanic members of the community. I am glad that you chose to include this recent study on diabetes on your blog. I agree that diabetes is an important topic to conduct research on and it seems that the new findings confirm the fact that Hispanics need extra resources to aid their battle with diabetes. I found it interesting that the researchers were quoted saying "We were not surprised by these findings since ethnic minorities in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by diabetes, and we found a similar trend in the African American population with diabetes a year ago". I find this statement to be very troubling. I feel that it implies that the research that was conducted a year ago has had little to no effect on the minority population dealing with diabetes. It would have been comforting to see how this research has produced beneficial programs or resources to diminish the amount of disparities among low income minorities. It is with studies like these that changes need to be made. Various studies I have come across comment on disadvantages of Hispanics because of economic status or cultural practices. Do you think this struggle with diabetes is clearly an indication of disparities brought on by low income, or could it be that cultural practices are harder to change? Last week, in my blog, I addressed a different study that mentioned how the assimilation of Hispanics could be the cause of higher rates of depression in teens, which can lead to the higher rates in suicide they found among Hispanic teen girls. Researchers believe that girls who exhibit high levels of depression and anxiety, lack a strong connection to family members from their country of origin. With last week's study and the one mentioned in your post, it seems that culture in some aspects can be beneficial but in others be seen as detrimental.

Although I find your blog informative, I would have liked to read your opinion on the research mentioned. As a future physician, it is important for me to understand the communities I serve. It would have been beneficial for me to read the thoughts and ideas of someone who has dedicated their life's work to the Hispanic community. I would like to hear your thoughts not only on the research aspect but also in terms of marketing and how that affects Hispanics' decisions to change their lifestyles. For example, I came across this new product. Do you think this is aimed toward the average Hispanic diabetic? I think not.

"Colorful New Glucometers Hit the Diabetes Market"
My Response:

I would like to start off by thanking you for choosing to write your blog on such an important topic like diabetes, as well as for stating that you have lived with type II diabetes for ten years. It is apparent that you feel strongly about raising awareness about diabetes. It is also refreshing to see that you it with a sense of humor. Although I enjoyed your post on the new line of ipod-esque glucometers by Life Scan on the market, I am curious as to your thoughts on a recent study published by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. I am not sure if you have aware of the study or not, but it states that Hispanics have a harder time controlling their diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. Just wondering if innovative, yet pricey, gadgets like the one mentioned in your post attribute to the problem rather than the solution. It is interesting to see that a product that is meant to facilitate a healthy lifestyle for all people suffering from diabetes would be marketed to a younger and more modern consumer. The study chose to focus on diabetics between the ages of 18 and 79, which could essentially benefit from a product like the One Touch Mini. You stated that you paid close to $100 for your glucometer, but apparently they can be purchased for around $20 now. Although the price of the actual monitor is reasonable, test strip prices are still expensive. Even you stated that manufacturers make money off of diabetics by giving away glucometers but charging a high price for the testing strips. Sure, this new product can appeal to a younger diabetic, but with elevated prices for test strips, is it even plausible that a low income minority would use it as often as is expected?

Although I found your post interesting and informative, I would have liked to have read your insights on products like these in terms of their practicality when living with diabetes. Is a glucometer a product you believe all diabetics should own (the One Touch Mini or not)? If so, how do you feel about the prices the manufacturers choose to place on products that are essential to promote a healthy lifestyle?

Increasing Suicide Attempts among Hispanic Teen Girls: Can the Next President Help?

2008-02-09T02:09:00.000-08:00

Puberty is a time of transition for adolescents that can bring about feelings of anxiety, insecurity and even depression. While the perils of growing up are often times similar for many teens, occasionally these seemingly minor problems can spin out of control. Most psychologists would encourage parent/teen communication in order to ease times of transition. What happens if parents do not believe in the importance of mental health for their teens? Because the field of psychology and mental health, in comparison to other medical practices, is relatively young in its development, many people are hesitant to trust its beneficial qualities when dealing with anxiety and depression. Additionally, most of the influential theories in psychology are not cross-culturally applicable. For immigrant teens, like Jocelyn Garay (left) and Ana Martinez (right), both major and minor changes associated with puberty were not always easily discussed with relatives because other problems took precedence for their families. When feelings of anxiety and depression go unresolved, severe repercussions come to the surface.

On January 22, 2008, the Washington Post published a story titled "Crying Out for Help: Suicide Attempts Reveal Strains on Young Latinas ." The article states that among the general population, Hispanic/Latin American females are more likely than White or Black teenage girls to attempt suicide. In a study conducted in 1999 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where teen risk behavior was surveyed, researchers found that 23.3% of Hispanic teen girls reported having made plans to commit suicide. This was significantly higher than both White (15.5%) and Black teen girls (13.7%). Luis Zayas, a psychologist and professor at Washington University in Saint Louis, who is currently conducting a study on this subject matter, offers some insights as to why this is becoming typical behavior among this specific group of girls. Zayas believes these attempts of suicide are merely a cry for help and not evidentiary of a will to die. Some explanations as to why these girls attempt to take their lives include the absence of strong familial ties, feelings of insecurity among peers, and confusion between what is expected of them in American culture versus what their families expect. Zayas also claims that crossing the border for immigrant teens can be a major source of anxiety and stress. He goes on to say, "Until we understand the cultural conflict, we will not be able to prevent this." What makes problems worse is that Hispanics rarely seek out mental health professionals. This is due to the fact that most Hispanic families do not believe in psychology and also promote keeping problems within the family. The Washington Post decided to present this story as a major crisis for the Hispanic teen population, but the question is, can the results of these studies be interpreted as progress rather than a widespread epidemic?

The idea that young Hispanics are coming forward with reports of having made plans to end their lives and are participating in ongoing psychological research is definitely a step forward. These participants are raising awareness of the importance of mental health services. This has important implications for future generations who will eventually know the severity of depression and suicidal tendencies among their youth. It is important to understand that these findings can serve as a stepping-stone for major change within the community. A hopeful message can be extracted from the progress these teens are making, in terms of their willingness to discuss their emotions with mental health professionals. What better time to bring up change within the Hispanic and Latin American community than during one of the biggest times of transition; the 2008 presidential election?

It seems that the upcoming election will have a major impact on many hot topics over the next few years. With Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain (pictured to the right) promoting major immigration reform, it is inevitable that the changes will affect many immigrants in the United States. Some of the changes mentioned by all three leading candidates include stronger border security as well as stricter laws against employers hiring undocumented workers. One of Obama's solutions includes allowing immigrants in good standing to pay a fine, learn English and have the opportunity to come to this country legally. Although each candidate has different opinions about how to solve the problem, the importance of keeping families together has been addressed at least by both democratic candidates. Ineffective laws, in the past, have separated parents and children, which only adds to the stress of immigrant teens. The mere fact that these issues are being addressed by the future leader of the nation seems to implicate that progress is being made.

The Latin American/Hispanic population in the United States is ever growing, which has never been more evident than during this time of presidential campaigning. With the information being brought to light by current research, it becomes clear that those who were once considered a minority in this country are impacting the field of psychology as well as politics in a major way. It is important to understand cultural differences when addressing topics such as health in the United States. Although studies such as Professor Louis Zayas' on suicidal teens can seem daunting and hopeless, it should be viewed as a beacon of hope. Not only hope that health care professionals are beginning to focus on minority mental health but also that presidential change has the power to reduce some of the turmoil foreigners currently deal with when immigrating to the United States.