Bridging the gap between spirituality and mental health: the need for trauma-informed ministries within Latino communities

ABSTRACT

The impact of trauma on mental health has led to the increased development of trauma-informed organizations. Little is known, however, about the benefits of using a trauma-informed care perspective within a faith-based setting, particularly among Latino communities. This article reviews the literature and identifies gaps suggesting the problem of a lack of mental health and trauma-informed awareness among places of worship. The need for developing trauma-informed ministries within places of worship is recommended to assist in promoting the psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being of congregants and community members within faith-based settings.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental illness
• trauma-informed
• training
• Latino
• ministry

Acknowledgments

This article would not have been possible without the support and exceptional guidance of my advisor and now colleague, Karen D’Angelo, Ph.D., MSW. Her dedication, expertise, mentorship, and encouragement have marked my professional and personal life, leading me to be able to bridge two areas that I love: faith and mental health. Thank you.

Thank you also to Lourdes Delgado, M.S., Director of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) CT Chapter Faith and Education Coalition, for her support, for her assistance in identifying the needs within the Latino community, and for her partnership in joining in on the vision to bridge the gap between faith and mental health.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. In this paper, the term “Latino” refers to people, whether foreign-born or born in the United States (US), who ethnically identify as being from Latin America, including the Caribbean, South America, and Central America.