Journal of Latinx Psychology, Vol 14(3), Aug 2026, 213-230; doi:10.1037/lat0000302
Latines in the United States have historically underutilized formal mental health services, despite demonstrating an increased risk for a variety of mental health challenges, even compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Queer individuals, on the other hand, are overrepresented in mental health treatment settings, while still having higher rates of mental health difficulties compared to their heterosexual counterparts. With the exponential increase in population among Latines, there has also been an increase in Latines, who identify as queer. However, few studies have explored the specific barriers and facilitators that queer Latines, a doubly marginalized community, may encounter when deciding whether to seek formal services or not. The present study investigated the barriers and facilitators to formal mental health help seeking in a sample of 30 self-identifying queer Latines (Mage = 24.5) with a variety of gender identities and sexualities using semistructured interviews. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we developed three overarching themes that discuss barriers and facilitators to formal help seeking and experiences with mental health providers. Barriers included both cultural norms and systemic barriers that might affect the decision to seek services. The last theme emphasized participants’ dissatisfaction with therapists that would not understand either their queer and/or Latine identity. Results showcased the specific barriers and facilitators for this population while underscoring the importance of cultural humility and competence that therapists need to have to appropriately treat queer Latines. Implications for practice and future directions are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)