LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Recent immigration fears in the community have triggered a wave of anxiety in Las Vegas Latino families.
“We work with families that, they know they have that due date of when they’re going, they have to go back or the family is going to have to be separated,” said licensed therapist and founder of Fuente de Vida Mental Health Services, Magarita Romano.
Romano said she sees the mental toll playing out, especially in children that are afraid their families could be deported.
“Families that we have noticed, they start isolating. They also stop sending kids to school. They start changing to do online school. They also stop going to the store, they stop going to the church,” Romano said. “Obviously, that is going to create a domino effect in their mental health, feeling isolated, feeling alone, feeling I need to hide.”
Romano compared it to living in survival mode. She said it’s a fear that’s only grown in recent months fueled by social media rumors and misinformation.
Luis Aceves works with REACH, a nonprofit organization offering mental health support to the Las Vegas Latino community.
“They’re going to be able to access low cost, high quality and certified mental health programs,” said Aceves. “Plus we have some options in the Spanish for virtual mental health support completely for free, at no cost.”
But despite the resources, many still hesitate to reach out. The CDC reported Latino youth were more likely than any other group to experience persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, but less likely to receive mental health treatment.
“For all the parents that are first generation or for any other generation, it is very important at some point to start talking about mental health,” Romano said.
REACH offers confidential bilingual support at the Mexican and Salvadorian consulates. To learn more about the services they provide, visit their official website.
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