A growing mental health crisis in immigrant communities collides with addiction, trauma, and enforcement pressure
The recent incident that left filmmaker Rob Reiner and his dead wife has once again drawn attention to the problem of mental health and addiction in the country.
Police have identified their son, Nick, as the suspect in the murders. Nick has struggled with these issues throughout his life, including homelessness, addiction to various drugs, and other mental health problems.
This case reaffirms that mental health issues are not limited to a specific sector of the community or social class. Rob Reiner, an accomplished filmmaker, had the financial resources to ensure his son received the best treatment, yet the problem reached catastrophic levels.
This incident also serves to highlight what is happening within the immigrant community and the urgent need for greater attention to mental health. Amid the federal deportation campaign, Spanish-speaking mental health providers are creating therapy groups and community workshops, while others are offering yoga, meditation, and other forms of support.
The mental health toll has been intense. Providers offering services in Spanish and to Latinos across the country say they are seeing people experiencing panic attacks, trouble sleeping, and an increase in depressive symptoms as a result of the intense enforcement campaign.
The increase in need comes as some therapists already have long waitlists and now face precarious funding due to changes to Medicaid funding and uncertainty surrounding federal that affects nonprofits. Spanish-language practitioners are doing what they can to reach as many people as possible, including through group therapy and community workshops. Others in the wellness space are stepping up to alleviate anxiety through meditation, somatic therapy—which focuses on how emotions manifest in the body—and yoga.
One woman with a pending asylum case told a newspaper this fall that a social media alert warning from federal agents in her neighborhood was enough to trigger a panic attack. She worried that she and her husband would be separated from their young daughter.
“I don’t have any peace,” the mother said at the time. The Sun-Times is not naming her because she has an uncommon first name that could identify her and put her at risk. “I’m thinking of him, I’m thinking of my daughter, and I’m thinking of all the scenarios that could happen.”
A survey by KFF and The New York Times highlighted anxiety among immigrants of all kinds, including those with legal status and even naturalized citizens. Immigrants with various statuses reported experiencing increased stress, anxiety, and worsening conditions such as high blood pressure this year.
It is important that organizations, families, and society in general remain alert to the symptoms that may arise within the community. Prompt attention will help ensure that individuals receive the care they need.
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