31 May 2024 – Immigrant families, particularly those lacking legal status, often encounter significant mental health challenges. As a 20-year-old immigrant from Mexico, I once overlooked the importance of mental health, but now I recognize the profound impact it has, especially for those without immigration status.As a senior at Grand Canyon University, majoring in business administration with a minor in business analytics, I have firsthand experience with the obstacles undocumented students face in higher education. These challenges have shaped my identity, fostering resilience and pride.
My family and I arrived in the United States as undocumented immigrants in 2005, seeking a better future. Growing up, I saw my parents struggle with cultural shifts, language barriers, and navigating unfamiliar education and healthcare systems. These difficulties were compounded by a lack of health insurance, financial aid, and the uncertainty of our immigration status, all contributing to mental health stressors among immigrant youth.
Statistics from Think Global Health reveal that psychological distress, such as feelings of nervousness, hopelessness, and depression, is nearly double among children of immigrants (10.1 percent) compared to their first-generation immigrant parents (5.9 percent). Many immigrants are uninformed about mental health care, exacerbating these issues.
In high school, I encountered significant barriers when seeking scholarships, as many required U.S. citizenship or legal residency. Despite being DACA-eligible, I couldn’t apply due to the program’s current restrictions on new applicants. This repeated disappointment led to a pervasive sense of hopelessness and apathy.
Despite these challenges, my perseverance paid off. I now attend Grand Canyon University with a full tuition scholarship from TheDream.US. It’s essential for immigrant families to seek support from local organizations like Aliento, a nonprofit in Arizona that assists immigrants through programs such as Cultiva. This program offers arts and healing workshops, open mics, and support groups, providing advice on managing stress and finding culturally aware therapists.
As an intern in Aliento’s Cultiva program, I research the challenges faced by immigrant students and families and help organize mental health support events. Aliento’s community mental health approach has been invaluable to me, providing a safe space to share experiences and advocate for positive change.
The Cultiva program empowers youth to practice coping skills, engage in self-reflection and storytelling, and express their challenges and hopes through various art forms. As Cultiva Program Manager at Aliento, I work closely with students, understanding their barriers as I, too, am an immigrant from Mexico with similar experiences. Since joining Aliento in 2016 as the first Art and Healing Program Collaborator, I have been dedicated to promoting healing, empowerment, and unity through bilingual spaces.
Sharing our stories allows us to process internalized emotions and realize we are not alone, fostering a sense of community and support. Aliento’s workshops emphasize the importance of this process, helping individuals express themselves through art.
As parents, teachers, and community members, we must shift our mindset from merely being welcoming to fostering a sense of belonging. Building confidence in our youth to express themselves at school and home reduces stigma and better supports their well-being. Organizations like Aliento play a crucial role in this endeavor.
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