New Center for Latino Mental Health at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Addresses Growing Need for Psychology in the Service of Latino Communities

 CHICAGO, Sep 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Latinos represent the nation's largest and fastest growing ethnic group, yet there remains a striking lack of knowledge regarding the unique mental health needs facing the Latino population--and a troubling shortage of culturally competent mental health professionals prepared to meet those needs. To help address this issue, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has started a new Center for Latino Mental Health. Formally introduced today at the school's annual Cultural Impact Conference, the center will work to bolster understanding of and access to culturally competent mental health services through scholarly research, community service, and education.

"Latinos account for only 1 percent of U.S. psychologists," said Chicago School President Michael Horowitz in his opening remarks to the conference's more than 600 attendees. "We asked the questions: 'What does the Latino community need and how can we help?' We started with dialogue, not with prescriptions. The aim of this center is to learn more about the issues and needs at hand while putting the people and programs in place to address the shortage of mental health professionals trained to work with the Latino population."

Citing figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Psychological Association, and the National Council of La Raza, President Horowitz used the forum to make a case for more attention on the issue.

The numbers:
-- Fewer than one in 20 Latino immigrants with a mental disorder accesses mental health services. Of those who do, more than 70 percent never return after the initial visit.
-- According to new Census Bureau projections released in August 2008, minority groups that now make up about a third of our country's population will grow to well over 50 percent of the people in the United States by 2042.
-- This change will result in large part from a tripling of the country's Hispanic population, from 46.7 million now to 132.8 million by 2050. By then, according to the Census Bureau, nearly one in three U.S. residents will be Hispanic.
-- The U.S. currently has only 20 mental health professionals for every 100,000 Latino residents.

Hector Torres, Psy.D., is the coordinator of the center and an assistant professor at The Chicago School.

"There is much evidence that Latino immigrants are disproportionately affected by mental health issues, and yet it can be difficult for them to receive the help they need," said Dr. Torres.

To this end, the center will work with the school's academic departments to create academic programs centered on Latino mental health. The school's Counseling Department has a new Latino Mental Health Concentration this fall and two certificate programs: a Postgraduate Certificate in the Assessment and Treatment of Latino Mental Health and a Post-Bachelor's Certificate in Latino Mental Health.

The center also will operate a research lab to help advance the knowledge base of diagnoses, treatments, and prevention of mental disorders among the Latino population. Finally, through its community service initiatives, the center will serve as a hub for students and faculty to lend their expertise at organizations that serve Latino communities by providing culturally competent mental health services, conducting culturally relevant research, developing new treatment models, and more.
"Our aim is to become a premier location that promotes understanding of the pressing mental health issues within the Latino/a community, both at domestic and international levels," added Dr. Torres.

About The Chicago School of Professional Psychology:
Founded in 1979, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is the nation's leading nonprofit school exclusively dedicated to the applications of psychology and related behavioral sciences. The school is an active member of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology, which has recognized The Chicago School for its distinguished service and outstanding contributions to cultural diversity and advocacy.
For more information about the Center for Latino Mental Health, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu/CLMH.
For more information about The Chicago School, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu.
SOURCE: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Matt Nehmer
312.329.6672
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

---