Mental health issues are tough, but they are even more difficult for the young and unprepared. There is an alarming rise in the psychiatric hospitalizations of Latino children and young adults in California, even compared to the youth of other ethnicities.

According to a report from California Health Line, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development has revealed that the rate for the mental health hospitalizations of Latinos at and below the age of 21 has increased dramatically over the recent years. It's up 86 percent to 17,813, just between 2007 and 2014.

The rates for other ethnic groups have also gone up, although to a lesser extent in the same period of time. Psychiatric hospitalization of African American youth has increased 35 percent while that of white youth increased just 21 percent.

"Often, they wait until they are falling apart," Dr. Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, a professor at the University of California, Davis Medical School, said.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to the steep rise of the mental health issues in Latino youth, but some point to a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate psychiatric services available. Others say a number of social issues play a part in the trend including the recession, separation and disintegration of families, and the trauma of escaping the violence in their home countries.

One other problem that has been discussed is the cultural stigma associated with mental health issues that make children hesitant to ask for help even when it is necessary.

However, there are also people who believe that the climbing numbers of hospitalizations shows an increasing willingness to come forward and not just among children. Psychiatric hospitalizations of Latino adults rose 38 percent between 2007 and 2014 compared to 21 percent in black adults.

Executive Director of Centro la Familia Margarita Rocha explained that mental health issues are beginning to be discussed more openly among Latinos and it's helping the people to seek services for their problems.

Some of the other issues facing the youth in need of psychiatric help are the shortage of bilingual and bicultural mental health staff who can give them the care they need. Access to the services can also be a long and arduous process, especially for recent immigrants and those without legal status.

Dior Vargas, Latina Feminist Mental Health Activist, founded the People of Color and Mental Illness Photo Project and she told NBC News that it was not easy breaching the subject of mental illness in the Latino community.

"There was some insecurity, questioning and even some backlash, but I kept reminding myself that young people, women, Latinos who live with these issues are silenced and feel unheard," Vargas shared.