Hispanic and Latino Americans
SAMHSA’s Office of Behavioral Health Equity (OBHE) works to improve access to quality behavioral health services and supports for historically underserved and under-resourced populations. This includes support for Hispanic and Latino Americans. OBHE strives to embed equity in SAMHSA’s grantmaking, training and technical assistance, and publications and products. OBHE manages the Hispanic/Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (CoE) which provides training, workforce development, and culturally-informed and linguistically responsive approaches across the behavioral health continuum of care, from prevention to recovery.
Using Data to Identify Disparities
- Almost 23% of the Hispanic population aged 12+ had engaged in binge alcohol use over the past month.
- Hispanic adults (17%) were less likely than Multiracial or White adults to have received mental health. treatment in the past year.
- Past year reported rate of illicit drug use among Hispanics was 20.6%.
- Find more data (PDF | 1.3 MB).
Related Resources
Advancing the Behavioral Health Equity of Hispanic/Latino Communities
The CoE advances and supports the sustainability of behavioral health equity by promoting community driven, culturally grounded and person-centered prevention, intervention, multiple pathways of recovery, and recovery supports for diverse Hispanic and Latino communities.
Capacity-building
- National Network to End Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) is a virtual network of community-based organizations focused on underserved communities, offering organizational capacity building, practitioner development, partnership building, and an annual training meeting, NNEDLearn.
- SAMHSA’s Language Access Plan is designed to help expand access to behavioral health information and services for non-English language preference populations.
- LGBTQI+ Behavioral Health Equity Center of Excellence
- E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging
Substance Use Intervention
- The Opioid Crisis and the Hispanic/Latino Population: An Urgent Issue (Available in Spanish)
- Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit (Available in Spanish)
Peer Development
Healthcare Professionals
- Tips for Healthcare Professionals: Coping with Stress and Compassion Fatigue (Available in Spanish)
- Anger Management for Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Clients: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Manual (Available in Spanish)
Families and Caregivers
- Talking With Your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol: Parent Guide (Available in Spanish)
- Tips for Teens: The Truth about Alcohol (Available in Spanish)
Advancing the Behavioral Health Equity of Hispanic/Latino Communities
The CoE advances and supports the sustainability of behavioral health equity by promoting community driven, culturally grounded and person-centered prevention, intervention, multiple pathways of recovery, and recovery supports for diverse Hispanic and Latino communities.
Capacity-building
- National Network to End Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) is a virtual network of community-based organizations focused on underserved communities, offering organizational capacity building, practitioner development, partnership building, and an annual training meeting, NNEDLearn.
- SAMHSA’s Language Access Plan is designed to help expand access to behavioral health information and services for non-English language preference populations.
- LGBTQI+ Behavioral Health Equity Center of Excellence
- E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging
Substance Use Intervention
- The Opioid Crisis and the Hispanic/Latino Population: An Urgent Issue (Available in Spanish)
- Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit (Available in Spanish)
Peer Development
Healthcare Professionals
- Tips for Healthcare Professionals: Coping with Stress and Compassion Fatigue (Available in Spanish)
- Anger Management for Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Clients: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Manual (Available in Spanish)
Families and Caregivers
- Talking With Your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol: Parent Guide (Available in Spanish)
- Tips for Teens: The Truth about Alcohol (Available in Spanish)
Need Help?
- If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
- To learn how to get support for mental health, drug, and alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov.
- To locate treatment facilities or providers, visit FindTreatment.gov or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).