Perceptions and Experiences of Uninsured Latinx Adult Participants in a Community Health Worker–Delivered Intervention to Address Depression

Abstract

Latinx immigrants have an increased risk of depression and other negative mental health problems. Community health workers (CHWs) have a history of bridging the divide between marginalized communities and health care systems. Since 2019, we have been implementing and evaluating a ten 1-hour-sessions intervention delivered by a CHW and adapted from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness exercises, and behavioral activation to treat mild to severe depressive symptoms and anxiety. There has been little research on the subjective experiences of the participants receiving mental health services delivered by CHW. Our study’s purpose was to explore the perceptions and experiences of participants in the intervention. To better understand the experiences of Latinx participants in the intervention, we conducted in-depth 1-hour interviews with participants who completed the 10 intervention sessions. Twenty-nine participants provided responses. Participant discussions about their experience with the intervention centered around three main themes: desperation as a motivator to accept the intervention, changed perceptions of self, and feelings of support. Results show that participants perceived the program as beneficial for their mental health and well-being by influencing their sense of self and self-worth and by feeling supported by the CHW. CHWs have the potential to address gaps in mental health service access experienced among Latinx immigrants. However, more research needs to continue investigating effective engagement strategies for treating depression and anxiety among Latinx immigrant patients.