Meeting Mental Health Needs of Puerto Rican Families

An increasing nunther of Puerto Ricans began appearing at Hartford area hospitals and at a local social work agency with symptoms of emotional distress. In many cases the symptoms were caused by the stresses of living on the mainland, which tended to erode familiar customs and mores. In June 1972 the social work agency and the psychiatric clinic of a local hospital established a special program to provide psychiatric services for them. The author describes the characteristics and culture of Puerto Rican families, the problems they encounter on the mainland, the program established to help them, and some of the difficulties encountered in working with them.