We’ve seen a large shift in the public opinion of mental health, towards a positive direction. The way we view our emotional psychological wellbeing and mental health has shifted in the past decades mostly because of the public shift and the beginning of policies on mental health. This has also helped because public figures, like athletes and musicians, have been vocal about their own struggles with mental health.
Musicians like J Balvin are openly talking about their struggles. J Balvin explains this perfectly as he talked about the initial stigma of coming out as feeling depressed and getting help through meditation and medication. Amongst, another artist, Selena Gomez has been open about her time at a psychiatric center and her battle with ongoing depression. 
This is something that didn’t happen, in our Latinx community, for a long time. In reality, 10 or 20 years ago, these conversations were non-existent, and in some households, that’s still the case…but things are getting better. It’s now more common to talk about how we’re feeling and not feel ashamed about it.
In the US, one in five adults is living with mental illness. Educators, Activists and Medical professionals are being vocal to end the barriers and stigma when it comes to the treatment of mental health. 
The Pandemic has been an extremely stressful pressure push for young people in the US and has strapped families financially. People are seeking and advocating for mental health days at schools and restaurant workers are looking for better mental health care.
Simply talking about Mental Health is not enough, taking action and getting help leads to disappointment as most mental health care facilities are governed by local and state governments and the systems have made mental health care a priority.
Although there is more talk about it, in communities of color there is still a perceived stigma in talking about Mental Health – No one wants to be perceived as “crazy.”
An interesting story was recently surfaced wherein an interview with Martin Luther King talked about his mental health. Dr. Martin Luther King reportedly had severe depression during his lifetime but never got treatment because he was scared of the stigma or how it could be used against him.
The Latinx community experiences the same thing, at times. In 2020, a short study by Statista surveyed White, Black, Asian, and Hispanics on Mental Health symptoms and found that….Hispanics have a higher percentage of Mental symptoms and/or Behavioral Health symptoms than any other race.
We’re also the winners in higher percentages who increased substance abuse to cope with pandemic-related stressor emotions.
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