By Maria Trovato
Starting in October, the University of Maryland Counseling Center will offer a weekly support group for students in the Latinx community.
Having counseled many Latinx students in the past, and identifying as Latina herself, Maria Luz Berbery — a Counseling Center staff psychologist and leader of the new Entre Nosotrxs Latinx Support Group — saw need for a space where the Latinx community could openly connect with and support one another.
“The purpose of the group is to be a supportive place for Latinx-identified students to get support from each other [and] talk about any concerns that they’ve had that they are struggling with, like school-related stress, family issues, friendship issues, or any mental health struggles they might be having,” Berbery said.
Yvette Lerma Jones, program manager for UMD’s Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy (MICA) Office, said this kind of program would be beneficial to the students she works with.
“More recently, a lot of the students have asked for additional mental health resources because they are really involved on campus, and do a lot of emotional labor in order to advocate for and educate others about the Latinx community,” said Jones, who previously served as UMD’s Latinx Student Involvement & Advocacy coordinator. “Having a space where they get to really take care of themselves, I think is great.”
Blanca Arriola Palma, a senior government and politics major and president of Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Society (PLUMAS), said this support group is needed because Latinx students face issues that other students might not.
“Whether it’s because you’re an immigrant, or you’re bilingual, or you’re first generation, there is just lot about our experience that maybe others can’t relate to,” Arriola Palma said. “It’s a good thing that students now have that place to talk about it.”
According to Berbery, there can be reluctance to accept mental health treatment or seek group therapy in some Latinx communities.
“Some of it is not having a familiarity with what therapy is, or how it could be helpful,” Berbery said. “Some of it is the stigma of being perceived as crazy — or loco — if you do go to therapy, or if you do struggle sometimes with your emotions.”
Avoiding conversations about mental health prevents people from seeking treatment, Arriola Palma said.
“Within our community, we’re told that mental health is not really a thing,” Arriola Palma said. “You just have to brush off whatever pain or struggles you’re going through. Taking the step to get that help, that’s already hard for people in general. But then being within a community where it’s very taboo, it makes it harder to actually seek that help.”
The United States recognizes mid-September to mid-October as Latinx Heritage (Hispanic Heritage) Month. At UMD, MICA and other organizations host Latinx-oriented discussions, festivals, dinners and performances, which Arriola Palma said is another way for Latinx students to connect and find a sense of belonging.
“Sometimes it is hard to find other Latinx Students,” Arriola Palma said. “Having this month and these events can help you find a community of people who can relate to you, and lets you release a little bit of stress.”
Jones said that while Latinx Heritage Month is a great way for Latinx students to come together and talk to each other honestly, it’s important to remember that these topics need to be discussed for longer than just one month.
“Being able to celebrate a heritage month allows for those spaces to be created and for those things to open up for people,” Jones said. “But I also believe that some of these conversations should be happening throughout the year, and not just during a specific month.”
The Entre Nosotrxs Latinx Support Group will meet every Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Shoemaker Building. Those interested can email Berbery at mberbery@umd.edu.