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Mente sana, gente sana: fe, comunidad y salud mental · The Medical Mind

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  We are recording?
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  Okay.
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  Hello everyone, it's to have you here in another episode of la saludmental.com I'm Dr.
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  Rivera, Dr.
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  Hector, from Philadelphia I'm a psychiatrist, I closely with young people and families This space always fills with joy because of course we can talk about mental health in a
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  simple way, real and close to our community and our patients
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  Thank you for taking the time to listen to today.
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  Today I am pleased to welcome a strong psychiatrist, colleague, Dr.
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  Victor Pereira Sanchez, has dedicated his career to improving access and quality of mental health in different communities.
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  Dr.
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  Victor Pereira Sanchez is psychiatrist and researcher in global m
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  in New York.
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  His work focuses on expanding the access to attention, reducing stigma, and promoting cultural that are informed for the community.
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  He was and is originally from Spain.
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  He has published more than 60 articles and has taught in schools like NYU, the University of Navarra, and the University of Amman.
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  She also completed advanced at NYU, Columbia University, worked at the Chao Mind Institute, creating global programs to form future leaders in mental health and developing
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  Currently, she is a postdoctoral at Columbia University and a member of the board of of the Association of
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  de ministros católicos de salud mental.
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  Doctor Pereira Sánchez, un gusto de irnos con nosotros.
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  Bienvenidos.
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  Hello Dr.
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  Colin Rivera, thank you I love being here.
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  Perfecto!
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  we haven't forgotten anything, but you can tell me more...
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  welcome.
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  Today we going talk about a topic deeply connected with lives of many families, especially the Latin and Hispanic is faith, migration and community In our communities, the
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  churches...
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  And the meeting are not only physical but also sources of support, comfort and connection.
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  And for those who arrive in a new country, by migration or by refugee, they can become an emotional and spiritual for them.
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  And I would like to start, I'm to Dr.
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  Victor, is that
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  Perfect.
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  Could you tell us a little bit about your career, how did this important in your research and what motivated you to focus on this topic of faith, also global mental health?
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  Thank much.
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  would say, well, since I little, think growing up in a family, I grew in Galicia, which for those who do know is an autonomous a region in the northwest of Spain, near Portugal.
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  It is a very beautiful region, very rural, very traditional and at the same time with very rich and also good, combining tradition with modernity.
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  I up in a family where faith was very important.
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  think in the paternal line, hundreds of years, think the most important occupations that they dedicated to almost all teachers or priests.
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  In fact, were priests almost on each generational for 200 years and they thought I was to the next one.
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  But God had other plans.
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  for me to myself to mental But well, I up in a community and a family in which faith has been very important, not only to connect with each other, but also to find strength and
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  help in difficulties.
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  And when I to dedicate myself to psychiatry and to learn from psychiatry, I found, as many cases,
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  there is a very important mental health affects all the dimensions of human being, both physical and spiritual.
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  And many times many people are looking for answers beyond what is in the books, is in the DSM, and these answers...
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  They seek them beyond, in God, in spirituality, faith and in their traditions.
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  But was especially when I was settling here in New York.
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  I came here in 2019 to learn more about psychiatry.
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  And shortly after arriving here, the COVID arrived, the pandemic.
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  And in New York, well...
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  After a while in New York, I settled in Washington Heights, is a neighborhood in the north of Manhattan.
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  call it the Little Dominican Republic because a large part of the population there are immigrants, children of immigrants, especially Dominicans.
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  But hey, it's a very diverse There is also a Jewish and Philippine and from everywhere.
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  But Hispanics are the majority, especially as say Dominicans.
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  And I going to a church.
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  a parish, to find a place where I could continue with my faith and practice.
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  When got there, they welcomed me with a affection, and the priest asked who am I I'm Victor, I'm from Spain, I'm a psychiatrist.
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  They opened their eyes, and the said, psychiatrist, we have to work together, because there's a lot of need here.
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  I also my mentor in Colombia, is a Spanish with a long history, Dr.
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  Milton Wember, he told we have to work on that.
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  I think this priest has found his mission here in the neighborhood and in Colombia.
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  That's I started.
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  Wow, tremendous.
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  So something that seems to be in the genetics in some way.
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  And it runs in genetics.
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  How cool, how cool.
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  I grew up Jesuit, right?
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  And when I moved here, it was very difficult to get a Jesuit here in the area.
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  But well, we continued as Catholics and we went to church from time time.
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  But I married someone who didn't have religion and it was a bit...
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  complicated.
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  But let's little bit that, about how many of the Latin my wife is not Latin, but many of the Latin the churches and the leaders of faith have a fundamental in the community.
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  We see it in most communities, that there is a person who the of this community and most of time they leaders of faith, are many leaders of faith who are the leaders in the
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  communities.
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  In your personal or professional how can these of faith open doors to conversations about mental You me a good example.
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  The person you spoke the priest, looked you and opened his eyes, as if you were a psychiatrist.
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  But how can churches or spaces be as conversations with people who need them?
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  Yes, good question.
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  one part, I think the main is that churches, for the Latin as we have seen growing, we also see with patients, with communities, is their natural for many it is their natural
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  space for everything.
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  Not only mental but...
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  Where do you the 15th Anniversary?
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  Many times you go to church first and you want to a special or a blessing.
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  You want a blessing from the Father, take pictures in the church and then you take pictures in another place, celebrate, your meal and everything.
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  But example, 15th Anniversary, the of wedding, the first communion.
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  There many social in the life of families that are focused on the church.
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  The church is like the social or the public in which the...
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  the social in which many people meet, they make friends, they even form a family.
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  Many people have found their partner, their spouse, their wife in the church.
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  It was my case.
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  I not only found the but couple of months later I the girl who is now my wife, right in that same parish.
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  But it is not an isolated believe many people find their...
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  his vocation, professional, family, there.
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  So it's a natural where they feel confident, where they feel comfortable, both on social where they find many of their friends, of their families, brothers-in-law,
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  brothers-in-law, but also when they alone, often find peace, silence, prayer.
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  So, these spaces where you feel safe.
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  These spaces where well, now, been spaces that have been a sanctuary for people who, regardless of their migratory or other problems, other difficulties, have traditionally
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  felt safe.
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  And the other hand, the father, the...
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  The clergy inspires them a They call a That's something that isn't in all cultures.
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  For example, Spain, although it's a Hispanic don't usually call priests They call by their names or call Don.
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  But it's interesting that they call a father and they really see as a spiritual as a figure of trust.
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  And I've seen
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  But it's also in the studies, that see that many times, Latin when they have a mental the first thing they to the father.
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  Sometimes they don't have anyone else to go to, because they have insurance, or there's stigma, but many times, even if they had access to a psychiatrist, a psychologist goes
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  first to the father.
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  So it's because all that.
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  because it's a natural in the community, because it's the father's because it's a figure of authority and also of trust.
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  example, what the father says, he often does it.
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  For example, we it in the pandemic.
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  In the pandemic, the father encouraged people to vaccinated, that was very important.
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  If the father tells them something, from the point of view of what they should do or not...
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  and take very seriously.
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  So, that's the Father and also because that space in which they often God and which they can pray and be heard.
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  I love it, I love it.
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  What I'm hearing is that the church is not only a place, but it a sense of purpose, hope, social in the community.
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  And I understand that and I'm running out of if I'm not correct, that the practice of prayer also reduces stress.
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  not only prayer, but meditation, rituals, In those communities, especially those who migrate and maintain their traditions, cultural and religious they use as copy skills.
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  They and they strengthen the resilience of being in a place that is their home.
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  ¿Me puedo hablar un poquito de qué oportunidades ha visto en su iglesia o ha creado con sus investigaciones?
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  Oportunidades que sean concretas, Aparte de la oración, aparte del sentido comunidad, qué tipo de...
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  that have been done to improve mental in these communities.
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  Yes, there two strategies that are contradictory, fact they are complementary and they go in synergy.
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  the one hand, it how to help from the sector of mental both academic and public, the state, how to collaborate with the churches to...
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  to mental health, improve access, to reduce stigma, to even offer services within the church, based on the church.
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  So, on the one hand, that, and the other hand, there the strategy of helping communities to give spiritual support that is more informed by science and knowledge of mental
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  Yes, Church for everything we have talked about, is a great support.
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  It is true that sometimes, not so for the Church, but for attitudes that are sometimes misinformed, or religious attitudes, or doctrines, sometimes churches can be places where
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  a person, especially a person with mental find difficulties or can find harm.
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  As I said, is not about the Church itself, not about the doctrine, but about how it is For example, there people who may find stigma, who are understood, who are rejected for having
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  a mental especially a mental illness, or who may tell them, you have anxiety or depression because you don't pray.
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  you don't trust God.
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  You have to pray more, don't take medication, don't go to therapy, pray more.
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  Sometimes there families that have lost a young or not so young, but we see a with families that lose young due to overdoses, due suicide, and sometimes they find people in
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  the church who maybe blame them.
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  They that's because you haven't raised them well, or they even tell well, look, your son has died of suicide.
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  Well, if he has committed suicide, is in hell, because that is a sin.
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  But all of these are interpretations that are first, are not in agreement with the Church, which teaches the mercy of God, which teaches to support everyone, and especially to
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  support people with mental And they do agree with the best episodes of the Church's in which we have seen...
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  In the Middle Ages, even later, many of the manicomies, were the best they had, because they didn't have medications, didn't have treatments, didn't have science, but many of
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  these resources were to church and they what they could to help.
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  So, that's why I these two strategies, one is to provide care in collaboration, but another is to help the church to understand well, that that the people of the church
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  understand their mission
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  of spiritual support but based on science.
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  example, the Church it more recently that suicide is not that someone wants to their life because they want to out bad will, they want rebel against God, but it is usually an
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  expression of despair and it is a disease, it is not an act of evil.
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  Therefore, a person who dies of suicide, although...
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  The will say that suicide is something encourage people to commit That is something that is wrong.
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  But the same time, have to understand that he is a sick person.
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  that don't know...
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  mean, God will have mercy on his soul and help him.
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  But that is not evil.
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  And don't have condemn him to hell, but let God have mercy.
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  But many people think that suicide is a sin.
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  I ask you what strategies that are culturally sensitive can help to resilience but also reduce the stigma that is well marked in our community, especially in young people,
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  families.
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  in the process of immigration to United States or to another country, any country, and the process of adaptation.
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  And I'm going add a little flavor to 2025, which thinks about technology and how technology has changed the way of approach of being in the community.
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  Many of patients turn on the radio or have an app and listen to the mass through the app.
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  or connect in video conferences with their priests or they record the mass in many occasions or both, a hybrid, the people are present or other people are present in the
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  house.
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  How technology can help to promote this and what has seen?
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  What has seen in the community that you talk about that?
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  Yes, starting with the end, but technology has been a help, during COVID, we saw that everything the churches although they reopened relatively early because it was seen that
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  the churches were important, that was important that the food sites were open, the churches were important, putting precautions.
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  but they were closed long time and many people, thanks to technology, could follow the mass and many times that has remained.
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  As you say, are people, sick people, can follow the mass.
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  For example, in the parish where we work, which is my parish, they give the main on Sunday through Facebook.
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  And many people follow it, especially people who are sick, who can't leave the house, or sometimes people who might go to mass in person, but maybe they're doing something else,
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  but at that time they're doing something else and they connect to follow it, to listen, to connect with the community.
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  And that's good, especially for people who can't join in person.
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  At the same
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  It's important that all this helps everyone can come and connect in person because the retransmission cannot replace, it can help especially people who do have other means but
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  it cannot replace.
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  And I think that, for example, because we lot of work with young people, adults, teenagers,
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  Many of them have grown up with technology and social networks.
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  For many of them, technology has helped connect with other young people in their church through social networks.
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  But when they are in the church, helps them disconnect from technology and have quality with other.
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  We see that the church, for all ages, but think it's good for young people, can offer a space where they can have quality real and support.
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  And many of young people we have for them have found that the church is a safe is a place where they are safe, even when...
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  Because sometimes social or where they are toxic or sometimes dangerous
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  but when they meet in real life, with other young people, have found that sometimes they have been There are people who have considered suicide, they have come from mental illness
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  even to commit suicide, but the community and prayer have helped them to be alive and be happy and grow and flourish.
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  I I agree.
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  And for those listen to because many family members and patients and community are not listening and I would like to talk little about early or indicators that families or
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  anyone who interacts with a human being can identify and recognize what symptoms of mental are.
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  at least visible, if you can say that.
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  And how can you support yourself before the situation gets worse?
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  Yes, it's a very good question.
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  Sometimes it's difficult because the line is blurry.
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  mental the difference between normal and pathological is complicated because emotions, even negative are necessary and are part of life.
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  Being sad is important.
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  It's good to sad when we have a loss, when something bad or when anxious.
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  To a certain extent it's positive.
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  If you're anxious, you won't study for the exams.
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  Things that can be in young people, when, for example, you spend too much time...
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  for example, with technology, mobile, with media, but there comes a point where an obsession that person, that young person, that young person doesn't interact with others,
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  even when see that is irritability, when you ask him to disconnect or when you take his phone or whatever, when you see a very strong and disproportionate those are signals.
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  Then there can be signs...
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  No...
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  I mean, sometimes emotions vary, especially in young people, in teenagers, emotions can vary a but it's not normal for a teenager to sad for many days in row, for weeks in a
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  That's something that has to alert could be a day, a bad and usually in relation to something that has happened.
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  But if we see that they come from a sad that nothing encourages them, that they stop doing the things they liked sports, leisure all those things can be alarm And then, well, what
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  happens if we that start to obsess, especially things that maybe they on social whatever, and start to obsess with a topic, sometimes they like...
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  a certain ideology that they weren't interested in they become very strong, or with weapons, with other things.
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  That can also be a sign that their mental is being
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  Yes, many obsessions.
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  I always tell parents that any change of that is abrupt and remains...
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  Parents know their children better than us.
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  Any change of is a sign that something is happening.
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  It's good to observe, sit with the child and talk.
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  And obviously, if you can't attend to the family, community, you can look for a reference.
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  a professional in mental I ask you, how and for those who free faith and volunteer who want support but don't know where to start, what you recommend?
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  I know there many, at least one example, I have many patients who are anxious, depressed, talk about volunteer many churches have volunteer work in other communities.
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  Also, people who feel that the church where they is no longer filling up or they feel that people have changed a and they feel isolated or they are longer the same.
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  What kind conversations do give I try to look for options in terms of, let's try this church.
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  And, right?
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  Something different or ask a friend about the church, different from yours.
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  I say that try different types of churches and scenarios.
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  But I would like to hear from you as an expert.
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  Two things, How, for the leaders of faith or volunteers who want support the community, where would they And also for those patients who are looking for a new church, a new...
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  community, how to start doing that.
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  Yes, for the first question, well, in fact, it's what we do with what is called the Ministry of Mental or the Catholic of Mental but hey, it can be transferred to any church.
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  We do with the Catholic but there are Christian ministries, Of other churches, of other denominations.
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  But this ministry is how to help people of the...
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  of the parish, and especially the lay people, the non-sacred, non-sacred priests, the non-sacred, the people who are pilgrims, people standing up, how can they other members of
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  their church who are suffering from So this ministry, we emphasize, this is not like a provision of mental health You, as a minister, you are not a...
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  specialist, you're a provider and don't need to one.
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  You need to be trained as a mental but as a person, as a human being, as a of faith, and as a member of this community, you can be a great help for the who suffers Because the one
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  who suffers often doesn't have access, or often the only person or the first person who will be by their side is you.
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  So, it's a ministry that we care and support, support with the presence, spiritual So, what's good is first to be trained in, like, alphabetization, right?
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  In English it's called mental health literacy.
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  I you don't have to be an expert in mental but can learn basic things about what disorders exist and how they just like in the day day.
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  in your context and how to recognize them.
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  Not how diagnose them, which is not your role, but how to recognize them.
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  There many resources there.
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  For example, usually recommend Mental Health First Aid.
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  They courses that can be to learn first to recognize, but also how to react.
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  It's like...
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  I say, we know, or sometimes many first physical to react if a person has a cardiac not so but a wound, how to bandages, but it is not taught how to react if you are a person, so to
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  normal, you are not a psychiatrist and suddenly you meet someone who has depression, anxiety or even schizophrenia, how to react.
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  What to And it's a lot of common but sometimes the common is Because it hasn't been yet.
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  So, how to offer a presence?
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  How to offer help?
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  How to sometimes help to de-scale?
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  Or least not scale, right?
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  And what things can you are helpful or not?
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  For example, it doesn't out very natural, You say, someone tells you, look, I'm depressed and I have suicidal Maybe he'll say, oh, it's okay, that to you
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  take a beer and you'll these things don't help.
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  saying, I also, I also, I I also got and, I mean, there are many things that said naturally but they help.
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  So, Mental Health First Aid helps a lot and other forms of literacy.
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  On the website of the International of Catholic Ministers of Mental many free many resources to learn and...
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  and to react, there is also thing called Sanctuary Mental Health, which is used for Christian churches and also for Catholic There are many resources, but I would say to and
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  help with presence, to know what to and also to know how recommend, know to recognize that, for example, you can accompany the can tell them some words of help, you can pray
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  with that person, pray for that person.
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  You can encourage him.
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  if there are spiritual things that he wants to talk he can talk to the Father.
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  But you can also learn to recommend him and know if that person may need to treat a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and know where to him.
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  Summary important to know, know, know when and where.
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  The comments, people, if you never forget, you can forget words and actions, but not how you made feel.
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  And very important to measure that.
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  Doctor, time, well, you know that it does not forgive.
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  I want to thank you for this conversation so important and so necessary for our community.
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  We deeply your work.
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  I read
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  of his research, interesting And thank you for your commitment to our communities.
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  I wanted to tell those who listen to us that the American of Psychiatrists has its resources too.
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  their pages we the guides for religious in Spanish and it is available on the social networks of the APA.
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  Thank for joining us in this episode of la saludmental.com.
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  And by the la saludmental.com is a website and it's real.
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  And it has very important for the community, our patients and their families.
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  We'll from in next chapter.
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  We hope you're there.
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  Take care.
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  Remember that mental health, people are healthy.
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  And please send greetings on social media.
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  Bring questions.
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  Yes