Depressive Symptoms, Assessment, and Treatment in Latino/a Adolescents: A Brief Review

Abstract

Latino/a individuals comprise the largest and fastest growing United States ethnic minority group of youth. Latino/a adolescents are a high priority, vulnerable population at risk for death and serious injury. More specifically, Latino/a adolescents are at high risk for being diagnosed with depression and thus experiencing depressive symptoms, including suicide ideations, attempts, and completions. The current article summarizes the scant research regarding the expression of depressive symptoms and depression care in Latino/a adolescents. In the current article we describe select literature focused on Latino/a adolescents and the following areas of mental health research: (a) prevalence rates of depression; (b) the intersection of gender and depressive symptoms; (c) the intersection of age and depressive symptoms; and (d) depression care (i.e., assessment and treatment) for Latino/a adolescents.