Treating the Whole Person

Undocumented and immigrant communities have been a major part of the political landscape. While their fate in the U.S. remains uncertain, many in these communities have experienced higher levels of trauma, anxiety, depression and substance abuse. But not only do they have limited access to quality clinicians and therapists, they also require a specific kind of care, especially if they don’t speak English. Often called culturally-sensitive care, it takes into account the language and cultural context of a patient.

Reporter Nuria Marquez Martinez spoke with health specialists at Street Level Health Project, a clinic in Oakland serving the undocumented and uninsured, along with a clinician at UC – Berkeley about what this kind of care looks like and why it matters in these communities.