Episcopal Health Services (EHS) is making a great effort to eliminate stigma associated with the search for mental health aid among members of the Hispanic/Latin community in Far Rockaway.
According to Tanya Barros, Ma, LMHC, Vice President of EHS Behavioral Health Services, the organization carries out intense community scope throughout the Rockaway Peninsula to inform about the available mental health services. This work includes the normalization of psychological care, the promotion of community support, the communication that assistance is offered in several languages and the emphasis on the cultural sensitivity of professionals who provide help. However, Barros believes that much remains to be done to increase awareness.
“Knowing that there are resources facilitates the way for people to seek help,” said Barros. “One of the main challenges to overcome stigma is to tear down barriers, and the first one is to make that first phone call.”
Community collaboration
Cooperation with local organizations and community leaders is key in this effort. “We need to collaborate and know the resources that each one offers,” said Barros. “Our patients can also go to these organizations, so we greatly value that cooperation.”
Barros explained that, within the Hispanic/Latin community, many people have grown with the belief that mental health does not require treatment. To combat this perception, EHS bets on education and the normalization of emotional expression.
“Mental health should not be ignored,” he emphasized. “It is as important as physical health.”
In addition, he mentioned that certain cultural norms, such as machismo in men and Marianism in women, influence resistance to seeking help. While machismo promotes pride, aggression and denial of vulnerability, Marianism reinforces the self -denial, submission and role of woman caregiver within the family.
“While these beliefs had their purpose at some point, each family must decide how to structure their dynamics,” Barros explained. “It is crucial to recognize how these ideas influence parenting and perception of mental health.”
Access to cultural services and diversity
According to Barros, one in five people will experience a mental illness at some point in his life, which makes it even more urgent to reduce stigma around the search for professional help.
“We inform the community that we have a diverse, culturally sensitive and humble staff, trained to meet their needs,” he said. “We have bilingual therapists and offer individual and group counseling sessions, as well as services for children, adolescents and families.”
EHS ensures that their patients can communicate in their language of preference, since most staff are bilingual and a translation service is also available.
“Receiving information in a language that is not your own can be uncomfortable,” Barros explained. “Therefore, we have numerous bilingual employees and access to an interpretation line.”
A call to the community
Barros wants the community to understand that seeking treatment is fine and that EHS doors are open for everyone. “The fact that so many Hispanics are taking the first step demonstrates that community scope and education are having a positive impact,” he said. “We have seen a significant increase in the number of people looking for our services and proud to accompany them in their recovery process.”
EHS has provided support to patients who face various difficulties, including people with suicidal thoughts. Barros stressed the importance of establishing a healthy relationship with a therapist, although this process can take time.
She believes that the community in general can help even more organizing events to normalize conversation about mental health. “We are the only hospital in the Rockaway Peninsula and we offer the highest level of psychiatric and psychological care in the area,” he said. “We have two psychiatric units for hospitalized patients, an emergency room with a small psychiatric unit, two outpatient clinics and multiple programs for children, adolescents and families.”
Available resources
Rockaway residents who have suicidal thoughts should call 911, go to the EHS emergency room or communicate with the New York state help line at 988. In addition, EHS has a well-being and recovery center on 19-01 Brookhaven Ave. and a Community Mental Health Center in 521 Beach 20th St. For more information, you can call 718-869-8822.
One of EHS’s most prominent programs is the home crisis intervention program, in which the staff visits patients in their homes to offer intensive advice and support. This program is aimed at children between 5 and 20 years old and seeks to prevent psychiatric hospitalizations by connecting them with adequate clinical services.
Barros said that, after the Covid-19 pandemic, Latin adolescents have been identified as the group with the highest risk of self-harm. According to a study cited by her, isolation has been a key factor in this increase.
Next events
On Friday, March 7, from 2 pm to 4 pm, EHS will organize a male mental health forum in Queens Community Justice Center (10-27 Beach 20th St.). A similar event aimed at women is planned for the end of March.
«Make the call, present yourself and allow us to guide them in your recovery. Searching for help is not a sign of weakness, but of strength, ”said Barros.
