WhatsMyM3 Screen Just Out in Spanish Language Version
Revolutionary Anonymous Mental Health Screen Provides Early Detection
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
(Bethesda, Maryland, July 2, 2012) – “Hay una app para eso.” There’s an app for that. WhatsMyM3 has just released a Spanish language version of its revolutionary new mental health screening app. It allows Latinos seeking help for mental health issues, long a critical problem in the Spanish speaking community, to take the screen and receive guidance in their primary language. The release is in conjunction with the start of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
The statistics are eye opening. While rates of depression are similar between whites and Hispanics, Hispanics are 60% less likely to get mental health treatment. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Latinos are identified as a high-risk group for depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Among Latinos with mental disorders, fewer than one in 11 contact mental health care specialists. Fewer than 1 in 5 contact general health care providers. Because it provides anonymous mental health screening, WhatsMyM3 is aimed at improving those statistics by getting help to those in the community who have avoided it.
Hispanic mental health officials say the release of WhatsMyM3.com in Spanish fills a critical need. Henry Acosta, deputy director of the non-profit New Jersey Mental Health Institute, Inc. (www.nrchmh.org), and second vice president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) says, “I’m excited that M3 is available to help people better understand how their mental health affects their overall resilience. The Hispanic population in particular tends to underutilize mental health services, is over-represented in many of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, and experiences an array of barriers to both accessing and receiving quality behavioral health care.”
Because of his efforts raising awareness of mental health in Spanish speaking communities, M3 is pleased to present Mr. Acosta with the Leadership Award for Mental Health Advocacy in Underserved Communities. "Mr. Acosta represents a new generation of young leaders in mental health determined to bring culturally tailored dialogue to people in a way that they can engage” says Michael Byer of M3. “His efforts to put the face of wellness on this important dialogue in the Latino community has helped all Spanish speaking throughout the country."
For media interviews and information on WhatsMyM3, please contact Marc Silverstein at (202) 716-9123 or at marc@onthemarcmedia.com.
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