How Mental Health Stigma Haunts Hispanic College Students
Aylin Gómez Melo, a 19-year-old University of Florida Student, struggles with anxiety and depression but avoids seeking help due to cultural stigma. As a first-generation college student from a Mexican-Guatemalan family, she faces pressure to succeed while dealing with mental health issues that her family doesn’t understand or support.
Many Hispanic families view therapy as something for “crazy people” and see mental health problems as laziness. Parents who grew up focused on survival often dismiss these concerns. This creates extra stress for students who feel they must be perfect examples for their families.
“When she was diagnosed with mental health conditions, Melo said her family wasn’t very supportive of the diagnosis. They didn’t accept the idea of therapy and medications as treatment for her mental well-being.”
