Latinx youths are at significant risk for mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts. Latinx youths are also less likely to access culturally responsive mental health services and continue to be undiagnosed or untreated. This can lead to negative outcomes such as negative interactions at school and with authorities, increased disconnection from family and society, and exposure to the criminal justice system. The presenter will also discuss factors that affect Hispanic and Latino youth mental health and academic performance, the use of culturally centered interventions in school mental health, and how to engage effectively Hispanic and Latino youth and families in school mental health treatment.

Learning objectives:

1. Identify trends in mental health disorders, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

2. Discuss culture-specific risk and protective factors associated with mental health.

3. Discuss cultural elements that inform mental health assessment and treatment interventions with Hispanic and Latino children and youths.

Who should attend? This is an intermediate level workshop designed for mental health providers, school mental health providers, and school administrators.

About the speaker:

J Rocky Romero, PhD, LMSW- Dr. Romero is the CEO and owner of JR Romero & Associates, a training and consultant company he started almost 20 years ago. Dr. Romero is a former Assistant Professor of the New Mexico Highlands University School of Social Work in Albuquerque, NM. He served as the co-chair for Governor Richardson’s appointed NM Higher Education Department on Cultural Competency Task-Force. Dr. Romero has also served as an Executive Council member for the NM-Consortium for Behavioral Health Training and Research to include other boards and committees. He completed his doctoral studies at the University of New Mexico in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies with a focus on analyzing legal discourse through a critical race theory lens. Dr. Romero has been a trainer and consultant for the NATIONAL HISPANIC AND LATINO MHTTC for the last 10 years and a national trainer for Clare|Matrix, formerly the Matrix Institute, for the last 12 years. He is focused on culturally appropriate treatment while focusing on reducing health disparities for people of color. Lastly, Dr. Romero is focused on the intersections of racism, discrimination, and the impact of racialized legal discourse on people of color.