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• Cancer
• Indigestion (empacho)
• Headache
• Pneumonia
• Upper respiratory infections
Hot conditions
• Anger (bilis)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypertension
• Mal de ojo (“evil eye”)
• Pregnancy
• Sore throat or infection
• Susto (“soul loss”)
Latinos are also accustomed to self-treating because most pharmaceuticals are available without prescription in their home
countries. The consequence of these barriers is a marked disparity in the quality of care that Hispanic/Latino patients
receive.
Depression and Hispanic/Latino Americans
In some cases Hispanic/Latino Americans find the strain of acculturation overwhelming. Their traditional values and beliefs
are often at odds with the “American” culture.
Among some Hispanic/Latino Americans, depression may be mistaken for nervousness, tiredness or a physical ailment,
and may be viewed as something temporary by the individual. To expound on the point made above, many Hispanics/Latino
Americans rely on their extended family, community, traditional healers, and/or churches for help during a health crisis. As a
result, thousands of Hispanics/Latinos with mental illness go without professional mental health treatment.
Hispanic/Latino Americans also have disproportionately higher rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus
52, 53, 54, 55
that can
intensify
depression, especially in cases where the individual is not willing to change cultural nutritional and eating habits to
reduce their risk.
Cultural Values Represented in the Healthcare Setting
Latino culture has several normative values that should be recognized in the clinical setting. They include simpatía
(kindness), personalismo (friendliness), and respeto (respect). Simpatía emphasizes politeness and conflict avoidance.
Personalismo is about achieving a personal connection, typically achieved by asking about the patient and their family.
People in many Latino cultures are comfortable with standing close to each other, so physical proximity is also perceived as
being more personable. Respeto implies attentive concern for the patient as well as respect of their age, especially in senior
citizens.
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Unconscious Bias and Stereotyping of Patients with Depression
There are two types of biases: explicit (or conscious bias) and implicit (or unconscious bias). An explicit bias is the kind of
attitude that you deliberately think about and report. Explicit bias accounts for many cases of discrimination and should not
be tolerated. An unconscious bias can be summed up as a prejudice, or an assumption that is made about another person
based on pervasive cultural stereotypes, rather than deliberate judgment. Both are harmful and should not be tolerated.