Healthy Archuleta offers Professional Cultural Competency Session in Mental Health

Healthy communities require collaboration between healthcare providers and the community, recognizing diverse perspectives and cultural backgrounds. Ongoing intercultural development, self-reflection, and understanding cultural contexts are essential. Archuleta County’s rich culture, especially Hispanic and Latino communities, benefits from this approach.

​Cultural humility sees each patient as unique, shaped by experiences like heritage, migration, socioeconomic status, and family. Active listening, valuing cultural knowledge, and collaborative relationships honor traditions. This builds trust, reduces disparities, and improves care quality for Latino individuals with mental health challenges. Addressing mental health stigma in the Hispanic and Latino community encourages open discussion and seeking help.
Psychiatrist Dr. Jose Canaca, a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico, will visit Pagosa Springs this April for mental health literacy and cultural competency training for healthcare providers. Dr. Canaca has extensive experience working in rural communities in Latin America and New Mexico, serving vulnerable populations like Native Americans, Hispanic/Latino communities, and immigrants. He leads cultural psychiatry lectures at UNM and has collaborated with COMISCA. The training will take place on Monday, April 7th at 5 pm, and 2 hours of CME credits will be offered to healthcare professional attendees who maintain CME along with dinner. Space is limited. If you are a healthcare professional and interested in attending, please RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday, April 3rd to confirm your spot.