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SALT LAKE CITY — In some cultures, talking about mental illness is taboo, but advocates with the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Utah and other community groups are working to change those attitudes.
Rocio Guerra Rueda was in her 40s when doctors diagnosed her with bipolar disorder. She said it was triggered after being in an abusive relationship.
"So you basically think you have things worked out in your life and you're stable in every way," Rueda said, "but it's all the things that you never worked on that become like a big ball of snow."
In her book Bajenme de Aqui, which translated means "Bring Me Down from Here," Rueda talks about her journey through working on treating her mental illness. She found comfort in writing and receiving treatment, now she is working to help others in the community.
"I want people to realize that they're not alone," Rueda said, "to realize ‘hey I'm not the only one that goes from mania to severe depression.' "
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Utah
Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness
Bajenme de Aqui by Rocio Guerra Rueda
Mental health advocates say some ethnic minorities in the state are suffering in silence with mental illness. Dr. Teresa Molina with NAMI Latino says there is a high rate of suicide attempts and suicide completion among Latina women. Molina said there are environmental factors that contribute to mental illness among immigrants, refugees, ethnic minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
"There is a lot of trauma in terms of discrimination against minorities and outcasting, which leads to isolation that triggers mental illness," Molina said.
As a Colombian immigrant, Rueda understands some of those triggers, particularly isolation. She said as a result of living in an abusive relationship, she felt worthless and powerless to seek help for her mental illness. She said many immigrants suffer in silence because they want to live their American Dream.
"As immigrants we think ‘if I don't continue taking all this on my plate, I'm going to be sent out of this country, which I think is the land of opportunity,' " Rueda said.
Mental health workers also say language and cultural barriers also prevent minority families from seeking mental health treatment, because it's harder to accurately convey their emotions.
There is a lot of trauma in terms of discrimination against minorities and outcasting, which leads to isolation that triggers mental illness.
–Dr. Teresa Molina
"It is important for individuals to start recovering (from mental illness) in their own language," Molina said. Molina said Utah has resources to help families begin that treatment process in their own language.
At the same time, Molina said minorities are also working to change cultural norms that may prevent them from seeking treatment, particularly women living in abusive situations.
"The idea of self-sufficiency, like ‘I can do it on my own, I can figure this out on my own,' is not appropriate for women in certain cultures to talk about," Molina said.
Despite these factors, Molina said mental illness is treatable. NAMI and USARA are working together to find community-based resources to help families begin to heal in their language and to acknowledge cultural norms that may prevent those efforts.
"You can recover from mental illness but you need to create an environment in which things can be discussed," Molina said.
