Latinos are projected to account for as many as 78% of all net new U.S. workers between 2020 and 2030 and 20% of all U.S. workers by 2030. But employers and their benefit advisers need to know that the U.S. health system is unprepared to serve this population’s mental health needs.
The numbers tell an alarming tale. Consider, for instance, that 20% of Hispanic and Latino employees have rated their mental health as “poor” compared with 10% of white employees. Mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental health emergency department visits by Latinos jumped 61% in a recent five-year period. In the same year the U.S. gained 5 million Latinos it lost 18% of its Spanish-speaking mental health facilities, while only 6% of U.S. physicians identify as Latino. These developments have serious talent implications; 39% of Hispanic and Latino employees have considered switching employers due to their health benefits.
