Depression-Related Stigma Among Black and Latinx Youths: Guidance for Stigma Reduction Interventions

Black and Latinx youths face substantial treatment disparities due to stigma and discrimination, yet current stigma reduction interventions lack culturally relevant content. The authors explored experiences of depression-related stigma and help seeking among Black and Latinx youths to inform the development of stigma reduction interventions.

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 youths (N=11 women, N=3 men, and N=2 nonbinary) ages 18-24 years and focused on stigma and race-ethnicity-related experiences, barriers to care, and feedback on a video intervention. Data were analyzed with thematic content analysis.

Overlapping themes included racism contributing to depression, parental and immigrant stigma, limited access to resources, and turning to peers or social media for support. Latinx participants reported tendencies within their communities to link mental illness to a poor work ethic and to religiosity-related roles. Black participants reported the perception that therapy is for White individuals and highlighted concerns that cultural stereotypes of Black individuals interfere with expression of emotion. Participants favored approaches to mental health that emphasize visual representation of ethnoracial groups and highlight that recovery is a process. The participants also suggested specific video content based on Black or Latinx identity.

Participants highlighted key gaps in stigma reduction efforts, including a lack of ethnoracial representation, as well as the importance of the role of parental stigma in the care-seeking process. The authors discuss future considerations for intervention development, including cocreation of video content, as well as implications for clinical practice.