DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — All month long, ABC11 will be focusing on mental health and its impact on various communities. No group is left untouched and the focus is on the Latino and Hispanic communities.
Factors such as immigration, trauma, and intergenerational conflict may contribute to silence about mental health in immigrant communities. Language barriers may prevent communities from accessing services.
El Futuro is a group in the Triangle that bridges the gap by helping Spanish-speaking families feel connected.
“We are a go-to place for people with mental health issues and drug issues. This is very powerful in the Latinx community. Neighbors and family members are encouraged to We say you can always get help at El Futuro. We do it through people who can provide services in Spanish,” said Luke Smith of El Futuro.
See also: “The Silent Struggle”: ABC11’s Town Hall Conversation on Mental Health
The organization said Latino and Hispanic communities face certain unique stressors. They attend a school that others don’t like, they don’t speak the language, they don’t have family, they face discrimination at work.
Smith said one in 10 North Carolinians is Latino and one in five school children are Latino. He said there are ways others can help some of our newest neighbors.
“We can make friends with people, we can be kind to people, we can involve people. I didn’t learn Spanish until late, but when I did, I found it fun to use the words.” Some of us have some rudimentary vocabulary that we can use. That’s really welcome,” Smith said.
El Futuro will be hosting a Kermes Mother’s Day Community Fiesta on Sunday, May 19th.
The festival focuses on maternal mental health and self-care. The event will feature live music, food and more.
The Kermes Mother’s Day Community Fiesta will be held at 2020 Chapel Hill Road from 4 to 7 p.m.
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