From February 25 to May 6, Chabot College is offering Latino/a/x wellness support for everyone on campus. With the support of CARES and Chicano Latino Education Association (CLEA) they are promoting mental health awareness for Latino students and much more!

The flyers for these sessions use the phrase “Cultura Cura,” which translates to “culture heals.” This demonstrates how they strive to connect with their cultural roots and find healing and strength from them.

With recent uneasiness in the Latino community, from the elections and anti-immigrant rhetoric, many people on campus wanted a place to chat and express themselves in a safe space. Many of those who made Latino/a/x Wellness Support possible were advocates from faculty, like Elsa Saenz, the CalWORKs program coordinator.

Karen Navarro, licensed therapist and social worker, is supporting students here at these support groups. She is the overseer of these sessions. Giving those who attend tools and guidance while letting them express themselves and talk in a safe space.

“Acceptance of suffering is at the core, like a big factor of why mental illness kind of goes unchecked for so long”  said Karen Navarro

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), about Hispanics/Latinx more than half of young Latinos with severe mental illness will not receive treatment. Latinos are 11% less likely to receive mental health treatment compared to the U.S. average of 46.2%.

“We need to work as hard or harder than our parents did because we owe it,” said Karen Navarro 

These sentiments are big in Latino communities, of how we must repay our parents for the opportunities they gave us. Many issues within the Latino community are often only understood by each other, these sessions give people the opportunity to share and know they are not alone.

In these sessions, the languages switch back and forth from English to Spanish, what is shared in these sessions stays there and doesn’t leave. Most importantly, you are respected in these sessions.

Sessions are still available until May 6 at the Bldg. 600 room 06-160 Library, first floor, on Tuesdays 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Karen Navarro leaves these words for all students here on campus 

“You get a chance, you can live now

You don’t have to wait to live.”