Mental Health Disparities in the Latino Community: Focus on College Students

Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States with a population of 63.7 million; 19.1% of the total U.S. population. By 2060, the number of Latino people in the United States is projected to grow to 119 million, or 28.6% of the population. They contribute to the economy, cultural diversity, and health of the nation. The U.S. Latino community is very diverse and includes people from many different nations and races. While many have lived in the U.S. for many generations, others are recent immigrants who may face inequities in socioeconomic status, education, and access to healthcare services. While Latinos are afflicted with mental illness at about the same rate as non-Latino Whites, 22% compared with 23.9%, only 36% of Latinos received mental health services compared to 52% of non-Latino Whites. Latinos are the youngest major racial/ethnic group in the U.S.; one-third of the nation’s Latino population is younger than 18. Among all U.S. undergraduate and graduate students, the share of Latinos increased from 14% in 2010 to 20% in 2022, slightly higher than the Latino share of the total population. In addition to the typical college stressors, Latino students likely experience unique challenges as members of an ethnic minority group that may negatively affect their psychological well-being. Assessing Latino college students’ characteristics in addition to their health status and health needs is key to informing health policy formulation and program implementation aimed to reduce and manage stress.