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Immigration Enforcement and the Mental Health of Latinx Students

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With the arrival of October, the autumn equinox ushers in noticeable changes like cooler weather, shorter days, and an overall atmosphere of warmth and comfort. This month also marks the continuation of Latino Heritage Month (LHM) celebrations. In September, the discussion focused on how current immigration laws and enforcement practices in the United States have impacted the mental health of Latinx children and youth living in immigrant and mixed-status families. As LHM concludes, it is essential to further examine additional influences – from cultural traditions to environmental factors and broader sociopolitical issues – that shape the behavioral health needs of Latinx children and youth.

 

Latinx youth represent the largest and one of the fastest-growing minority groups in the U.S. – currently making up approximately 30% of the total U.S. population of children under 18.1 Despite this demographic reality, they experience higher rates of mental health issues, such as depression, compared to their peers. For instance, 22% of Latinx youth report depressive symptoms, a rate higher than all other groups except Native American youth. Yet, they are less likely to receive mental health treatment (8%) compared to Caucasian youth (14%). This disparity is compounded by limited access to care and lower quality of services.2

People with roots in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central and South America have contributed to the U.S. cultural landscape for generations. Spanish is widely spoken, contributing to collective identity. Some groups find strength and identity in indigenous heritage. Other connecting threads include shared religious traditions, tight-knit family structures, reliance on extended social networks, and a resilient, purpose-driven perspective toward life and work. Within this broad community, the behavioral health needs and the lived experiences connected to mental wellness can differ significantly among various subgroups.3

While the U.S. Latinx population is highly diverse, encompassing individuals from a wide range of countries and regions around the world, certain cultural elements tend to unite Latinx people across backgrounds. Integrating these cultural values into behavioral health supports for Latinx children and youth is essential. Culturally responsive practices improve access, engagement, and outcomes, bridging persistent gaps in care for this growing population.4

Latinx families often express deep cohesion, interdependence, and collective identity, with core values such as familial duty (“familismo”), respect (“respeto”), trust (“confianza”), being personable (“personalismo”), and community orientation shaping daily life and self-concept. These values directly influence how children and youth perceive behavioral health, mental illness, and the acceptability of seeking care.5

For instance, “respeto” guides harmonious relationships and deference to elders and authority, affecting classroom interactions, family engagement, and responses to behavioral health support. “Familismo” makes family input crucial for successful intervention, and its neglect can erode trust and engagement. Recognizing and navigating these deeply held values is fundamental to earning trust, securing participation, and shaping effective interventions.6

Latinx children and youth encounter unique risk factors that heighten behavioral health needs, including:

  • Discrimination, racism, and cultural marginalization.
  • Language barriers in academic and counseling settings.
  • Acculturation stress resulting from navigating conflicting values between home and school environments.
  • Stigma associated with seeking mental health services, intensified by fears of social judgment and misunderstanding.

Together, these factors contribute to underutilization of school mental health services and miscommunications between families and school personnel. Integrating cultural values into behavioral health supports is not merely respectful; it is evidence-based. Programs and practices that meaningfully incorporate family perspectives, community context, and cultural frameworks have greater engagement, improved outcomes, and reduced disparities.7

  • Culturally adapted interventions consistently outperform unmodified, one-size-fits-all approaches, as shown by higher effect sizes in meta-analytic comparisons.8
  • When families and students recognize their cultural values in the delivery and purpose of mental health services, they are more likely to participate, trust providers, and benefit from support.9

Promoting a school climate that celebrates diverse backgrounds increases students’ sense of safety and belonging, critical prerequisites for learning and well-being. Multicultural curricula, visible community celebrations, and anti-bias policies signal respect and help Latinx students see themselves reflected and valued.10

Many Latinx students also carry stress from migration, discrimination, or intergenerational trauma. Trauma-informed and restorative justice approaches benefit these students by emphasizing healing, inclusion, and accountability rather than punitive exclusion.11

 Any assessments conducted by the school should include acculturation, language, immigration history, and values like “familismo” and “respeto”.  Adapting assessment and treatment frameworks to match cultural norms and communication styles avoids misdiagnosis and alienation. Schools should also use narrative and “wellness” language to destigmatize behavioral health and frame the process as care, not punishment. They should ask about students’ support systems, family dynamics, cultural stressors, and beliefs about mental health and integrate culturally grounded resources and community partners into any school-based services.12

Family participation is crucial yet often overlooked or poorly coordinated. Family engagement increases participation, reduces resistance, and results in more holistic, effective care.13

Schools should:

  • Host culturally relevant family events and open forums.
  • Offer bilingual materials and interpretation/translation services.
  • Consult with cultural liaisons familiar with local Latinx communities.14

Community-based organizations with cultural roots often already possess the trust and insight needed to engage Latinx families. Schools should partner with such groups to:

  • Co-develop programs and curricula.
  • Ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach.
  • Train paraprofessionals and peer advocates who reflect the community.15

Empirical studies underscore the protective impact of cultural values on Latinx children’s and youth’s mental health. Values like affiliative obedience, respect, and family obligation have demonstrated protective effects against depression, anxiety, and risky behaviors when supported by aligned school-family environments.16 When parent and youth cultural beliefs “match,” youth show fewer internalizing symptoms and experience less acculturative stress.17 Meta-analyses also reveal that culturally adapted interventions outperform standard treatments in behavioral health outcomes for Latinx youth and improve parental mental health.18

Integrating cultural values into behavioral health and educational support structures is not optional but foundational for meeting the needs of Latinx children and youth. Success hinges on the commitment of schools to join in partnership with families, embrace and respect cultural differences, dismantle barriers, and tailor interventions to community strengths and lived experiences. When cultural integration is fully realized in policy, practice, and spirit, Latinx students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally – nourished by environments where they are seen, valued, and supported.

 

References:

  1. Latina Data Hub — Demographics
  2. The State of Latino Children’s Mental Health — UnidosUS Blog
  3. Hispanic/Latinx Identity and Cultural Dimensions — NAMI
  4. Tran JT, Tran AX. Culturally Responsive Civic Engagement: A Pathway to Mental Health Equity for Latinx Youth. HCA Healthc J Med. 2022;3(5):311–316.
  5. The Impact of Family and Culture on Mental Health Prevention and Intervention for Latinos with Behavioral Health Needs (Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence)
  6. Calzada EJ, Fernandez Y, Cortes DE. Incorporating the Cultural Value of Respeto into a Framework of Latino Parenting. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2010;16(1):77–86.
  7. Taking Action: Supporting Latinx Youth and Families — National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC (PDF)
  8. Calzada EJ, Fernandez Y, Cortes DE. Incorporating the Cultural Value of Respeto into a Framework of Latino Parenting. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2010;16(1):77–86.
  9. The Impact of Family and Culture on Mental Health Prevention and Intervention for Latinos with Behavioral Health Needs (Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence)
  10. Taking Action: Supporting Latinx Youth and Families — National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC (PDF)
  11. Taking Action: Supporting Latinx Youth and Families — National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC (PDF)
  12. Marquez RL, Cornejo F, Diaz G. Working with Latinx Youth and Families (Ohio Systems of Care, 2020) (PDF)
  13. Solano-Martinez JE. Parent-Child Cultural Values (Mis)Matches and Youth Mental Health Among Latinx Families (2024) — DePaul University ETD
  14. Taking Action: Supporting Latinx Youth and Families — National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC (PDF)
  15. Latino Network: Culturally Competent Care — Cambia Health Foundation Blog
  16. Calzada EJ, Fernandez Y, Cortes DE. Incorporating the Cultural Value of Respeto into a Framework of Latino Parenting. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2010;16(1):77–86.
  17. Solano-Martinez JE. Parent-Child Cultural Values (Mis)Matches and Youth Mental Health Among Latinx Families (2024) — DePaul University ETD
  18. Robles-Ramamurthy B, Sandoval JF, Tobón AL, Fortuna LR. Beyond Children's Mental Health: Cultural Considerations to Foster Latino Child and Family Mental Health. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2022;31(4):765–778.

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