"Salud" is a Latin Post feature series that focuses on health and wellness topics and examines Latino health trends.

Each year Mental Illness Awareness Week takes place during the first full week of October, and those seven days offer a firm opportunity for advocates to fight stigmas, provide support, and educate the public on mental illness condition.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and other participants across the nation annually bring awareness to mental illness, growing support and access. The work done NAMI and other groups help to improve the lives of tens of millions of U.S. residents affected by mental illness. The new Stigma Free initiative proposes to reveal mental health sufferers as individuals and not diagnoses, and it looks to take actions on mental health issues with the hashtag #IAmStigmaFree.

Eliminating stigmas is important for addressing poor communication, the underuse of antidepressants, and the delayed recovery of Latinos from depression. Findings have shown that Latinos are identified as a high-risk group for depression, anxiety and substance abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention 2015 Suicide Statistics, approximately 18.9 percent of Hispanic students have considered suicide, and 11.3 percent have attempted suicide. Consistently, the number of Hispanic students who require medical attention following a suicide attempt is higher than non-Hispanic black or white students, who then need treatment for an injury, poisoning or overdose.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a report in 2011, finding that Latinos were least likely to report mental illness. Approximately 15.9 percent of Latinos reported mental illness, compared to 20.5 percent of whites. Less than 1 in 11 Latinos contacted mental health professionals, and less than 1 in 5 contacted a general health care professional. Also, fewer than 55 percent of Hispanic adults and 30 percent of adolescents suffering from a major depressive episode received treatment for their depression. While 27 percent of Hispanics have suffered from depression, just 5 percent reported using antidepressants, according to a study conducted by the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

Overall, Latino struggle with mental illness, but women and second-generation immigrants fare worse. Statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness shows that the prevalence of depression in Latinas is higher (46 percent) than it is for Latino men (19.6 percent). Also, first-and-second generation Hispanics are significantly more likely to display symptoms of depression than foreign-born individuals due to assimilation and long-term discrimination-related stress, affecting anxiety levels, depression and sleep.

High levels of depressive symptoms, uninsured rates and lowered use of antidepressants deeply impact the U.S. Latino community. Also, a lack of Latino health care professionals to offer the community valuable and relative information has stunted the improvement of health disparities. Reports have documented the importance of representation in healthcare, and Latino professionals can help Latino patients to access culturally appropriate and trustworthy treatment, as well as services that acknowledge their language.

The Mental Health Awareness Week brings attention to those living and coping with depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. residents (62 million people) are affected by mental illness annually. Additionally, 1 in 17 (14 million people) live with a major mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, depression or schizophrenia. According to NAMI, annual cost of mental illness is $193 billion.

While conversations on mental health illnesses are occurring more frequently and the public is become more open-minded and tolerant about mental health issues, it's vital to continually educate the public about the effects of mental illness on chronic medical illnesses, as well as other topics relating to mental health. Disarming stigmas can help affected individuals feel like they aren't being isolated or judged, which would exacerbate depression and increase the risk for suicidal thoughts. For this reason, it's important to continue to give support to campaigns, media and programs that look to highlight the struggles, successes and needs of those who often suffer and cope in silence.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) lists support for Hispanics and Latinos who need to access innovative training, programs and assistance.

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