Skip to content
Help support CapRadio’s local public service mission 
and enrich the lives in your community.
Support local nonprofit public media.
Donate Now

View thank you gift options

CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Health Care
  •  

Mexican Consulate To Offer Bilingual Mental Health Services For Stressed Visitors

  •  Sammy Caiola 
Friday, September 29, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
  

A new program at Sacramento’s Mexican Consulate aims to provide mental health check-ups to visitors while they’re waiting for government services.

Roughly 1 in 5 Latinos experience mental health challenges in the U.S., and community advocates worry the issue has worsened in light of the recent Mexico earthquake and ongoing immigration raids.

So the Ventanilla de Salud, or “health window”, expanded Sept. 22 to offer on-site therapy to people waiting for passports, notary signatures and other services. 

The Sacramento nonprofit Health Education Council has operated the window since 2009. They’ve been offering diabetes screenings, blood pressure tests and insurance enrollment help for a while, but they’ve had to refer people off site for mental health services.

Program director Cynthia Lopez Foltz says they’ve been trying to put more emphasis on mental well-being over the last year. Starting now, they’ll provide mental health assessments for all visitors, and help them make appointments with the on-site bilingual therapist as needed.

The therapist is currently available every Monday, though the group hopes to hire more mental health staff soon.

“Given the landscape, as well as the natural disasters that have been happening most recently, we’re most at risk for suffering from stress or anxiety,” Lopez Foltz says. “To respond to that need, that’s why we’ve been wanting to offer a deeper, more robust service here at the consulate.”

The Ventanilla de Salud mental health program is a five-year pilot , funded by a $1 million state grant. Los Angeles has a similar pilot program, which may eventually spread to to other Mexican Consulates throughout California.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 sacramentomexicomental healthMexican Consulateventanilla de saludHealth Education Council

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sammy Caiola

Former Healthcare Reporter

Sammy Caiola has been covering medical breakthroughs, fitness fads and health policy in California since 2014. Before joining CapRadio, Sammy was a health reporter at The Sacramento Bee.  Read Full Bio 

 @sammycaiola Email Sammy Caiola

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Health Care Stories

Damian Dovarganes/AP

California enters a contract to make its own affordable insulin

March 20, 2023

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

March 17, 2023

Heidi de Marco / KHN

Prescription for housing? California wants Medicaid to cover 6 months of rent

March 22, 2023

Most Viewed

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

Sacramento guaranteed income program opens applications for second round of participants

California coronavirus updates: Medicaid enrollees may start getting removed from program as pandemic-era rules expire

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Wildfire victims left ‘in the dark’ after U.S. Forest Service briefs Congress about the Caldor Fire

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

Sacramento guaranteed income program opens applications for second round of participants

California coronavirus updates: Medicaid enrollees may start getting removed from program as pandemic-era rules expire

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Wildfire victims left ‘in the dark’ after U.S. Forest Service briefs Congress about the Caldor Fire

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.