Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15-October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month and this year’s theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communities beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.
Why does this month-long celebration start in mid-September? September 15th coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), followed by Mexico on the 16th, Chile on the 18th, and Belize on the 21st. Another important date within this 30-day period is Día de la Raza, or Indigenous Peoples Day, which is celebrated in Mexico and other countries on October 12. In total, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates communities with roots in 20 Latin American countries and territories. American Latinos make up more than 19% of the United States population.
We have many people on staff and people we serve who are Hispanic and/or Latino. (Do you get these two terms confused? Hispanic refers to people who speak Spanish or are descended from Spanish-speaking populations, while Latino refers to people who are from or descended from people from Latin America. Simply put, Hispanic refers to language and Latino refers to geography. Learn more.)
As with other people of color, Hispanic Americans experience higher rates of poverty and have less access to healthcare services than White people (the following stats are from 2021, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/SAMHSA).
- The poverty rate of Hispanic and Latino Americans is nearly two times higher (17%) than non-Hispanic White Americans (9.5%)
- Nearly 18% of Hispanic or Latino Americans were not covered by health insurance in 2021, compared with about 6% of non-Hispanic White Americans
- Only 36% of Hispanic and Latino Americans received mental health services compared to non-Hispanic Whites (52%)
- Past year substance use disorder among Hispanic and Latino Americans was 15.7%, reported rates of illicit drug use was 19.4%, and unmet treatment needs 15%
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among Hispanic and Latino Americans 10 to 24 years old, and men 25-34
- Hispanic and Latino Americans experience barriers to behavioral health services and care including systemic racism and discrimination, mental health stigma, language access issues, and a lack of culturally competent resources and providers
During Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrate by taking the time to learn more about Latino identity and historical legacies that enrich communities and continue to shape our nation.
We stand with our staff, friends, neighbors, the people we serve, and all Hispanic Americans. We will continue to work towards racial equity and social justice.