Resource Details

Guide to Migrant Seasonal Agricultural Workers Mental Health Equity

Year Developed: 2021

Resource Type: Publication.

Primary Audience: Clinicians Enabling Staff Outreach Staff
Secondary Audience: Administrative Staff C-Suite (CEOs, CFOs, CIO, COOs, CMOs, etc.)

Language(s): English

Developed by: MHP Salud (See other resources developed by this organization).

Resource Summary: This Guide provides health center staff with important resources, information, and tools to address the unique mental health needs of their Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Worker (MSAW) patients. One of the most crucial resources we explore is the active role of Community Health Workers to bridge the gap between MSAWs and clinical care.

Resource Details: In MHP Salud’s 2020-2021 National MSAW Mental Health Survey, Migrant Health Centers (MHCs) were surveyed to better capture mental health needs of their MSAW patients and to understand how MHCs are addressing those needs. MHCs reported a wide variety of mental health issues experienced by MSAWs. The more commonly reported mental health issues included depression (98.6%), generalized anxiety disorder (85.1%), and substance abuse (82.4%). These results also align with the top mental health issues found in the general U.S. population, including anxiety (19.1%), depression (7.8%), and substance abuse (3.8%). This indicates that the mental health issues reported here may be more widespread and not specific to the MSAW population.

Resource Topic: Special and Vulnerable Populations

Resource Subtopic: Behavioral Health.

Keywords: Community Health Workers, Mental Health, Migrants.