How to Improve Healthcare Worker Burnout



Nearly half of healthcare workers say they often feel burned out. That is why CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently launched the Impact Wellbeing Guide: Taking Action to Improve Healthcare Worker Wellbeing. “The role of healthcare workers in taking care of all of us is absolutely vital to our society, to our economy, and to our culture. But our healthcare workforce needs to feel supported, too,” said Dr. John Howard, NIOSH director, in press release. Let’s explore the guide, its six action steps, and how it can benefit Latino healthcare workers! What is the Impact Wellbeing Guide? NIOSH and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation designed the Impact Wellbeing Guide to help hospital leaders and executives accelerate or supplement ...

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Survey: Latinos Among Students Most Likely to Withdraw from College



Latino and Black students have the greatest risk of withdrawing from post-secondary education programs, according to a recent survey by the Lumina-Gallup State of Higher Education. This finding comes at a time when institutions offering bachelor’s degrees are seeing a significant drop in enrollment — a situation exacerbated by COVID-19. Over the last decade, college enrollment has declined by 7.4%, which is the equivalent of 1.5 million students, according to Best Colleges. The biggest decline – 900,000 students – came during the pandemic years of fall 2019 and fall 2023. While the enrollment of underrepresented students such as Latinos and Blacks has somewhat improved, they are also considered to be more likely than their white peers to leave. Survey Results on College ...

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Latino Parents Worried about Teen Social Media Use, Urge Policy Safeguards



Social media has become a part of everyday life and routine, especially for young Latinos.      While social media can offer supportive communities and educational resources, it can also bring harmful impacts and habits.  Nearly half of Latino parents are “extremely concerned” over the potential harmful impact that heavy social media use can have on their pre-teen children’s mental health, according to new data from the Brookings Institution.  “The Latino community is particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges as a result of social media use,” according to Brookings report.   Let’s dig deeper into what the data says and how it affects Latinos.   Young Latinos and Social Media  The Brookings Institution survey, led by the Omidyar Network, ...

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3 Ways to Support Latino Men’s Health



Did you know 12.1% of men are in fair or poor health?  Similarly, the average life expectancy of men in the United States is almost 5 years less than women (76.2 compared to 81).   November is National Men’s Health Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of men’s physical and mental health while encouraging support for men facing prostate, testicular, and other cancers.  In November (and beyond), here are some ways you can support men’s health!   Latino Men’s Health  Latino men face many health disparities when it comes to physical and mental health.   For example, while national suicide rates decreased, the rates went up 6% for Latino men, according to a 2022 article from Texas Public Radio.   Machismo and other forms of stigma can play a large part ...

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Mental Health Resources for Latino Family Caregivers



November is National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM)!   NFCM is an opportunity to recognize family caregivers across the country and “raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers,” according to the Administration for Community Living.   This year, Mental Health America has shared new resources for both caregivers and employers.   “We know caregivers need support in balancing their personal and professional obligations, and employers need resources to better support their caregivers on staff,” according to Mental Health America.   Let’s dive deeper into these educational tools and find out how they can benefit Latino caregivers.   Latinos and Caregiving  41.8 million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult ...

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Find Dementia, Parkinson’s, and Caregiver Support Groups at UT Health San Antonio!



We know that Latinos are disproportionally impacted by Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other health conditions like Parkinson’s disease.  That is why it’s important to have support and resources for those who are impacted, as well as their families and caregivers.   Let’s explore various support groups from the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio!  Support for Those with Lewy Body Dementia  The Biggs Institute hosts an in-person support group, Living Together with Lewy:  Support group for Individuals Living with Lewy Body Dementia and their Care Partners.  Lewy Body Dementia is the second-most common form of dementia, behind Alzheimer’s. It results in irreversible cognitive decline and movement problems ...

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How Latinos Can Get Mental Health Resources in Spanish



One of the many factors that contributes to the disparities within mental health in the Latino community is lack of culturally accurate and relevant resources.   With this need in mind, Mental Health America (MHA) has launched a Spanish Mental Health Resource Center complete with Spanish-language resources and tools.   Let's examine what these resources have to offer and why materials like these are important for Latinos.   Spanish Mental Health Resource Center  Fostering mental health awareness and support for all is crucial.   “Language barriers can make communicating with providers difficult, or even impossible, particularly when a person is seeking counseling for sensitive or uniquely personal issues,” according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness ...

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Screen Time and Mental Health: Resources for Young People



Mental Health America (MHA) has published the Selfies, Social, & Screens: Navigating Virtual Spaces for Youth toolkit to help younger people’s technology habits.   “Parents, caretakers, and household members act as the main influence on a child’s use of technology,” said Schroeder Stribling, President and CEO of Mental Health America.   Let’s examine youth mental health, the helpful resources that this toolkit contains, and how you and others you know can benefit from it.   How Technology Use Impacts Mental Health  Virtual habits and activity can have a large impact on the mental health of young people.   “Children and teens are dealing with the intense emotions of growing up in a digital age where much of their lives are spent online,” according to ...

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Rosa Escalante Lopez: Resilient Latina Overcomes Health Crisis to Help Latinos Heal Invisible Wounds



A young Rosa Escalante Lopez curiously looked around the therapist’s room as her mother and the therapist chatted in Spanish. “The elementary school thinks she may have a learning disability,” Rosa’s mother said. “She’s struggling in math.” “According to my evaluation, your daughter is developing normally,” the therapist said with a smile. “She can continue to the next grade; she may just need extra tutoring in her math class.” As the two continued to talk, Rosa reflected on her session with the therapist. She was fascinated with the idea of helping people heal a wound that may not be visible, such as a learning disability or a mental health condition. “In my last year of elementary school, I remember thinking, ‘I'm going to be a psychologist and ...

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