Mental Health kit/Caja de Salud Mental

There are 60.5 million of Latinos/Latinxs in the USA, this group is rapidly growing, and currently represents 18.4% of the U.S. total population. Specifically, there are 37 million Latinos that speak Spanish at home. This is a big deal for the mental health field. The literature shows that Latinos are less likely to attend and stay in therapy. This is due to several challenges: language barriers, immigration status, and acculturative stress. It is also known that only 5.5% of psychologists speak Spanish, leaving a huge portion of the Spanish speaking population subject to long wait lists and never serving mental health needs. This mental health box or kit allows folks to have access to have access to psychotherapy resources, stress-relief materials (essential oils, anxiety poppers, and more), journaling tools, and coloring for stress materials as well. Everything is in both English and Spanish, culturally sensitive. It helps to normalizes therapy in the Latinx, it allows people to have support before they are able to see a therapist. It can also be used by therapists who work with Latinx clients in order to support them. 

This mental health kit helps Latinx  and Spanish speaking families to overcome the stigma around mental health and talk openly about their feelings, emotions, and pain. We bring together culturally sensitive materials in both English and Spanish for individuals to learn more about mental health disorders, learn how to seek help, and engage in treatment with a professional. It is not a replacement for therapy, but a complementary and proactive way for folks to take care of their mental health who are often underserved. Right now, everything is physical, folks can order a kit and they receive the materials below in a box. Since the target population is folks that not might have access to online resources, we haven't created an online platform yet, but it could definitely be a plan for the future. 

Our Mental Health Kit Includes:

1. Stress relieving materials (coloring, play doh, poppers, and essential oils:
2. Ingredients: Vetiver, Lavender, Bergamot, Orange, Rosemary and Organic  Coconut Oil.)
3. Free resources
4. Journaling tools
5. Instructions and feedback card.
6. Everything is in Both English and Spanish. 

For example, here are some of the potential costumers (target population):

1. Single mother, 4 children, past abused and depression. She gets the kit and is able to journal about her mental health, read about depression (psycho-education) and is able to process and make plan to reach out to a therapist. 
2. Pastor at a Christian congregation where Latinx members come to him for mental health support. Once he gets the kit, he is able to learn more about mental health (suicide prevention, depression, anxiety, and others) and can use the kit as a way to advocate for mental health within his congregation. 
3. Teachers and school counselors at a mostly minority students school. These have been the most recent consumers of this product so far. Teachers really like to have something tangible to use with their students, specially immigrant Spanish speaking children and their families. 

I am a Latinx immigrant myself, my family immigrated to the USA in 2004. In 2015, my younger brother attempted suicide. Thankfully, he survived, and this experience inspires my work. Seeing my family seeking services in our native language was challenging. We live in a small town where there are not many bilingual providers. I vowed then that I would dedicate my career to help other families like mine navigate mental health challenges. I have lived in my community for over 15 years, in which I have embedded myself as a dedicated member and a professional. I have built long-lasting relationships with Latinx-led churches, organizations and non-profits that have been key to my work and career. I often engage with conversations either via my research or community events. Mental heath is a well know and unserved need in my community. There are many people struggling with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Furthermore, as a researcher, I conducted a mental health needs assessment where the main need is lack of access to bilingual resources, this kit aims to help with that. I don't need research or a PhD (which I have) to know that there is a lack of bilingual providers, resources and access to culturally sensitive mental health services. I have lived experiences that allow me to know the needs, pain and lack of access that my community experience as a deep rooted level. Hence, I have dedicated my career to help mediate these needs. 

As an immigrant the USA education system was really challenging to navigate. The business and entrepreneurship world is as if not more challenging. I am always looking to grow, learn, and expand my network. I think Solve is a really cool initiative and opportunity that will help me expand this solution to a serious problem. I think the monetary support can be key in growing the kits, expanding product, and reaching more people. The non-monetary support that Solve offers is even more important, I think mentors and guides are key to any kids on journey you embark yourself on. I am a mentor myself and I value mentorship, therefore, I am always looking for mentors with expertise that will help guide my path. 

The Latinx population is the largest ethnic/racial minority group in the United States, comprising 18.5% of the population (Census, 2019). It also is the fastest-growing minority group in Forsyth County, constituting 13.7% of the population (Census, 2019.). The Latinx population experiences
significant disparities in access to mental health care (Cabassa, Zayas, Hansen, 2006). Without effective mental health treatment, mental health issues can worsen, putting Latinos at a greater risk or “more serious and persistent forms of mental health conditions” (NAMI, 2018). Latinx youth,
particularly Latina adolescents, are more likely than white and black youth to have serious suicidal ideation (18.9%), make a plan to commit suicide (15.7%), and attempt suicide (11.3%; American Psychiatric Association, 2017; Kann et al., 2013; NAMI, 2018). Common mental health issues in the
Latinx community include generalized anxiety disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol abuse (NAMI, 2018). Acculturative stress, a common experience of Latinx youth and adults, often exacerbates mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety (Maldonado et al.,
2018).
Nationwide, barriers to mental health services for the Latinx community are financial, logistic, linguistic, and cultural. In Forsyth County, similar barriers to mental health services exist for the Latinx population. Results of a recent needs assessment conducted by a team of researchers (manuscript in the works) revealed that, while several resources exist for the Latinx community in Forsyth County, language, transportation, and financial resources are barriers to accessing care.
Regarding language barriers, results indicated that only 12% of the mental health providers employed in agencies or churches that serve the Latinx population in our community are bilingual (English/Spanish).
Most importantly, the COVID pandemic has shed light on the inequalities in health care that affect the Latinx community As of June 2021, the Latinx community represented 28.5% of all COVID cases (CDC, 2021). Given that COVID also has mental health consequences, it is important to ensure that
the Latinx community has access to mental health resources.
In 2018, the I-CORPS Greensboro site program provided me with business consultants, mentors, and access to up to $3,000 to do client discovery and start a prototype. During this time, I also conducted a needs assessment in Forsyth County exploring the mental health needs of the Latinx community.
During this research, I discovered that the most common noted need was the lack of resources in Spanish. In conducting over 30 interviews with participants that were presented with this kit idea to increase access to resources, there was an immediate positive response and proof of the need. The assumption is that people will benefit from this kit to not only be encouraged to seek treatment but also reduce the stigma around mental. These assumptions will continue to be tested via the
customer feedback strategies.

This idea just started in the summer of 2020. I currently assemble kits in my living room with the help with my partner and friends. I would like to establish an Esty account or Amazon store so that distribution is easier and faster. I plan to do this in the few months in order to reach more people. 

Also, I want to create a coloring book that is both culturally sensitive and bilingual. If selected I plan to hire a Latinx graphic designer to help me with this goal. 

There are several ways that effectiveness of the kits is being measured. Client and consumer feedback is asked for at every kit. Each kit contains and feedback card that folks can send back via text or email. This kit will help reduce inequalities in mental health resources, services, and support. 

I think the Theory of Change fits beautifully with the kits idea. I want to create a world where everyone is open to talking about mental and there is no more stigma. There are systematic challenges that prevent people who's primary language is not English to access mental health services. 

No core technology yet. 

In my work as a clinician and researcher I have always strive for equity. In my organization all members are welcomed, respected, supported and valued. And the kits aim to reach everyone, this is why I include Spanish language materials. Since often times, Spanish speakers are left out of programs and organizations due to language barriers. 

I sale the kits for $30. So far I have made over 1,500 in revenue since January 2022 from schools and individuals that have bought these kits. 

Applying to small business grants like the Venture Cafe opportunity has been very helpful to help me grow this idea.