This document provides information from the September 2016 issue of a newsletter from the Center for Latino/a Mental Health at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. It includes summaries of presentations on autism in the Latino community and suicide prevention among young Latinas. It also highlights alumni, upcoming fellows, and events for Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 16th.

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September 2016 Issue
Contents
Presentations – Autism in the Latino Community 1
Introduction to Hispanic Heritage Month 2
Suicide Prevention Month 2
Alumni Feature – Camellia Wong 3
Domestic Violence Awareness Month 3
2016 NRCI and CLMH Fellows 4
Hispanic Heritage Month Event Calendar 5
Cultural Impact Conference Call for Proposals 6
CLMH 7
On June 22, 2016, Susmita Biswas, M.A. gave a presentation on Autism in the Latino Community. The presentation
focused on teaching mental health providers about working with Autistic clients in the Latino Community.
She taught attendees about how Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder that impacts two main domains.
These include impairment in social communication and restrictive, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior.
Attendees also learned about the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.
Susmita discussed how Latino children are diagnosed 1-2.5 years later than their Caucasian peers and some of the barriers
that affect this early diagnosis. Some of the points highlighted in her presentation were the stigma about mental health,
language barriers, financial stressors, lack of family support, and fears regarding legal statuses. As mental health
professionals working with Latino clients, Susmita also discussed the important of cultural considerations. Some of these
points included community collectivism, spiritual/religious resilience, the role of children as cultural and language brokers,
and interpersonal styles when working with children.
Susmita is a former student of The Chicago School. She graduated from the Master’s program with a concentration in
Latino Mental Health studies in the summer of 2013. She completed her practicum at Advocate Illinois Masonic Pediatric
Development Center, and is currently a staff member there. Susmita will be returning to campus to conduct this presentation
again in October.
For more information on how to contact the presenter, please contact Mayra Chacon, Director of Center for Latino/ Mental
Health, at mchacon@thechicagoschool.edu
NEWSLETTER
September 2016 Issue
Autism in the Latino Community
An Overview of Autism and Culturally Relevant Treatment
Susmita works with students to
enhance their understanding of
working with clients with Autism.

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Q: When is Hispanic Heritage Month?
A: National Hispanic Heritage Month is from
September 15 through October 16. It is a month
when we can honor and pay tribute to the
generations of Hispanic and Hispanic Americans
that have enriched our society.
Q: Why is this month celebrated from
September 15th
to October 15th
?
A: Many of the days during this month are the
independence days of various Latin American
countries. The following Central American
countries Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El
Salvador and Nicaragua celebrate their
independence day September 15 and Mexico and
Chile on September 16 and 18 respectively.
Q: Who celebrates this month?
A: Everyone can celebrate! Especially those with
ancestral roots from the Caribbean, Mexico,
Central and South America, and even Africa for
who identify as Afro-Latinos.
Q: What activities or traditions take place
during this month?
A: Many communities host parades and festivals.
Museums nationwide have special exhibits and
students of all ages in school may learn about
different Hispanic cultures and important figures.
Q: How can I celebrate this month?
A: Explore from the diverse pool of Hispanic and
Latina/o cultures and traditions. Immerse yourself
and join the Center for Latino Mental Health in our
various activities throughout the month. Check out
our calendar of events for more information on
page 5.
Sources are available upon request
at ldz6344@ego.thechicagoschool.edu
Introduction to Hispanic Heritage
Month Q&A
Suicide Prevention Month
It’s imperative to talk about suicide awareness among young
Latinas. This topic has received minimal attention by both the
media and the mental health field for various reasons. Many
people don’t know that young Latinas nationwide actually
have the highest rate of suicide attempts among adolescents.
A number of cultural and societal factors contribute to this
epidemic.
Mental illness is stigmatized among the Latino population.
Mental illnesses are viewed as temporary bouts of sadness or
stress. Latinos in general are less likely to seek help for
mental related issues than other ethnic groups. Depression
and other serious mental afflictions are not viewed as real as
physical conditions. As a result, teenage girls may not be
taken seriously. Young Latinas, like other teenagers are
beginning to navigate the adult world. This transition of
becoming a young adult is especially difficult for first
generation Latinas. They juggle American societal
expectations of adulthood with cultural norms from their
community. In the Latino community, gender roles can be
strict; especially for young girls who are learning from
American culture that dating and independence are important.
Unsurprisingly, depression among Latinas tends to be higher
than Latino men. These cultural conflicts add a significant
amount of mental stress to an already difficult developmental
stage in life.
Latinos often do not have access to affordable health care
services. When Latinos are willing to go to treatment, there
may not be a therapist who speaks Spanish or understands
their culture. Suicide and mental health awareness in general
is also needed in the Latino community. Family influence is
extremely important regarding perceptions of mental health
needs. Parents may believe love and encouragement are
enough to deal with depression; however, therapy is also
vital.
• In 2015, 15.6% of Latina youth nationwide reported one or
more suicide attempts.
• Latino youth in high school were more likely to report
attempting suicide than other ethnicities.
•Latinos born in the United States have higher rates of
suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
Along with therapy, healthy communication between parents
and adolescents is important. Programs such as Life is
Precious provide workshops, education, and other resources
that teach parents and Latinas about healthy relationships,
effective communication and support. They provide single
and group counseling, arts therapy, and psychiatric resources.
Programs like Life is Precious need to be expanded in order
to combat suicide rates among young Latinas and Latino
youth in general.
Request references at ldz6344@ego.thechicagoschool.edu

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Alumni Spotlight
Camellia Wong, MA
Forensic
Psychology
Graduate
Camellia Wong attended undergrad at Buffalo State University of New York (SUNY), at the
Singapore campus. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. After graduation,
Camellia decided to widen her horizon and chose to attend the Chicago School of Professional
Psychology-Chicago (TCS). She was drawn to TCS’s forensic center and the diverse
opportunities of the many areas in the field. She was amazed by the department faculty
expertise and their broad areas of interest when compared to other universities.
Camellia began her studies at TCS in the Clinical Forensic Psychology Psy.D. program and
later transferred to the Master’s program. She graduated this summer with her Master’s degree
in Forensic Psychology. As a mental health professional, she would like to work with juveniles
in Singapore. Camellia elaborated about interest of working with youth and how it has been a
curiosity of hers for several years now. She feels that more can be done to help juveniles work
towards reintegrating into society, as many are still very young and have long journeys ahead.
Camellia gained her clinical experience at Computer Systems Institute, Gurnee and Taylor
Business Institute, Chicago. At these sites she gained experience working with American-
Latino and South-American Latino clients over the course of her practicum year. The latter
were international students attending classes to improve their English. She characterized being
given the opportunity to work with domestic and international students as rewarding. As an
international student herself; Camellia understood and could relate to many of their struggles.
Upon graduating, Camellia intends to return to Singapore and pursue a career as a forensic
psychologist. She aspires to continue working with juveniles or youths, as she did at TCS.
Furthermore, she has a passion for finishing her doctorate. Camellia plans to develop juvenile
oriented psychological assessments, testing, and programming that are specific to her region.
Domestic violence transcends race, age, socioeconomic status and gender; making it a common yet often unspoken issue in
the United States. Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crimes in the U.S and 94% of victims of these
crimes are female. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the U.S experience some form of physical abuse by an intimate partner in
their lifetime. However, domestic violence is more than just physical abuse. Domestic violence may consist of emotional,
verbal, sexual and economic abuse. It is also difficult to know when a loved one is being abused or even abusing others.
Domestic violence can be subtle and overt. Unfortunately, domestic violence does not only affect the victim of abuse. It may
also affect friendships, workplace environment and all family members, especially children. Approximately 15.5 million
children are exposed to violence in the home each year.
When a person we care about is experiencing domestic violence as a parent, child, sibling, friend or coworker it is only
natural to want to help the victim remove themselves from a hurtful and dangerous relationship. However, this journey can
take an emotional toll on both the victim and the person trying to help. It is important to respect and continue supporting the
victim until he/she is ready to set healthy boundaries or leave the relationship. In an abusive relationship it is also important to
acknowledge that the perpetrator could also need help. How can you help a loved one who is being abused or is in an abusive
relationship?
1. Be patient. 5. Offer your unconditional support.
2. Listen without judgment. 6. Validate their acknowledgement of abuse.
3. Problem solve only if they ask first. 7. Offer community resources that understand domestic violence.
4. Tell them they are not alone. 8. Respect their decisions.
Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.877.863.6338 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
For support, resources and references please email Veronica at vxf5578@ego.thechicagoschool.edu
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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NRCI Fellow:
Rebecca Romero
and studied Criminal Justice and
Psychology. Rebecca worked with the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission
(ISAC); a state agency that works with
first-generation and low-income students to
help make college more affordable and
accessible. She loved working for ISAC
because she could see the progression of
students’ journeys to pursuing entry to
college. Rebecca found that often students
start intimidated by the process and end
being excited to leave for college.
Rebecca is excited to be the new fellow for
the NRCI. She looks forward to meeting
new members of NRCI and helping further
establish NRCI’s role within the local
community. Rebecca aspires to work with
abused children when she graduates. Her
goal is to work for the FBI on cases
involving sex trafficked victims.
Rebecca was born
and raised in
Hanover Park, IL.
She is a first year
student in the M.A
Forensic Psychology
program at TCSPP.
She graduated from
the University of
Illinois at Springfield
Meet Our New Fellows
Erika is from Storm Lake, IA and is a
second year student in the Clinical
Psychology Psy.D program. She
graduated from Buena Vista University
of Storm Lake. She studied Psychology
and Spanish and minored in Sociology.
During a research clerkship, Erika had
the opportunity to help run parent
NRCI Fellow:
Erika Garcia
Veronica is originally from Mexico City and has lived in Chicago most of her life. She is a
second year student in the Masters in Counseling program. She graduated from Loras College
in Dubuque, IA with a BA in Psychology with a Spanish minor. Veronica is currently
Psychology intern for the Palliative Care team and Journey Care Hospice at Rush University
Medical Center. She provides emotional support to individuals in the inpatient care unit. She
also works with outpatients coping with chronic illnesses teaching coping skills for managing
chronic pain. Veronica provides grief therapy for patients and families receiving end-of-life
care.
Veronica worked with Hispanic families experiencing domestic violence during her time at
HOPE at St. Pius V. This experience solidified her passion for working to create awareness of
mental health issues and the stigma surrounding these issues. She also volunteers on the
Springfield Dominican Anti-racism team. This organization works to dismantle system racism
within institutions and congregations operated by the Springfield Dominican Sisters.
Veronica looks forward to working with students and becoming a liaison between TSC and
community mental health institutions. Upon graduating, she aspires to provide support to
individuals navigating difficult medical conditions. She also plans to continue being an active
advocate for domestic violence and immigration issues.
CLMH Fellow:
Veronica Flores
psychoeducational groups. These groups taught Spanish speaking
Latino parents about various mental health topics that may affect
families. Erika enjoyed seeing the clients’ enthusiasm and interest in
learning more about topics that are often stigmatized. Erika’s current
practicum site is located on the south side of Chicago. She will work
at a school and a bilingual center working with low SES and minority
families. She will complete assessments and diagnostic evaluations
with children and adolescents.
Erika aspires to work with minority working-class and low-income
families when she graduates. She would specifically like to work in
the Spanish speaking community in rural Iowa, where she feels
mental health services are practically nonexistent. She would like to
work across various counties and plans to create psychoeducational
presentations and support groups. Her goal is to engage individuals in
different ways and eliminate barriers that prevent individuals from
seeking help.

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Do you know of an upcoming conference or event that you think we
should include in our next newsletter? Would you like us to highlight
your work? Our submission deadline for our next bi-monthly
newsletter is August 15th
. Please e-mail your submissions along with
any photos you would like us to include to:
ldz6344@ego.thechicagoschool.edu
The Center for Latino/a Mental Health (CLMH) and The Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health
Education(NRCI) at TCSPP would like you to join us in celebrating Latino/a and Hispanic Heritage Month
beginning September 15 through October 16. There will be a series of events honoring culture and diversity
and stimulating conversations about issues pertaining to the Latina/o and Hispanic communities. Use this
month to immerse yourself in a culture that likes to rumba (party), has strong family values, admirable work
ethic, and impressive indigenous roots.

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Calling for Proposals!
Deadline October 2, 2016
Looking for Presentations
for the
Cultural Impact
Conference,
March 17th, 2017

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Mission
To provide education, research and community education services to address the unique social and
cultural mental health needs of the growing Latino population.
Goal
To increase the number of culturally competent mental health professionals in order to improve the
accessibility of mental health services to the Latino/a community is the goal of the Center for Latino/a
Mental Health.
Community
To further advance our impact in the Latino/a community, The Center for Latino/a Mental Health
forges partnerships with community and social service agencies that serve the Latino/a population.
Our students and faculty lend their expertise to these organizations by providing culturally
competent mental health services, conducting culturally relevant research, developing new
treatment models, and more. In turn, students gain invaluable hands-on training that prepares them
to be even more effective leaders in the field of Latino/a mental health.
Education
The need for culturally competent mental health professionals trained in the assessment and
treatment of Latino/a clients is enormous. In response, The Chicago School developed the following
academic program that focus on Latino/a mental health:
 M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Latino Mental Health Concentration
Center for Latino/a Mental Health
325 N. Wells St.
10th
Floor, Room 4085
Chicago, IL 60654
clmh@thechicagoschool.edu
CLMH Website
Center for Latino/a Mental Health Staff
Mayra Chacon, Director for the Center for Latino/a Mental Health
Rosana Vázquez-Alcaraz, Newsletter Editor
Leslie Zarker, Newsletter Editor
Roxanna Chavez, Newsletter Author
Araceli Lopez, Newsletter Author
Veronica Flores-Zapata, Newsletter Author
Learn More About CLMH