Abstract
Mexican immigrant women experience anxiety and depression at a rate higher than non-Latinx women. Although their reasons for leaving their native country vary, escaping poverty and seeking opportunities to better the lives of their families are prominent. As these women work toward a better life, they encounter stressors that debilitate or threaten their mental health. Acculturative stress, migration, poverty, discrimination, and a lack of culturally competent services are just some of the barriers they face when they come to the United States. A quantitative analysis was used to assess data gathered from surveys completed by Mexican immigrant women who were receiving services at three Yolo County clinics. The literature coincided with the data, which identified the challenges these women experienced and the strengths they utilized to overcome them. This research study used a risk and resilience model and narrative theory to analyze the protective factors that can counter the barriers that produce anxiety and depression for these women. The findings revealed that culture serves as a foundation for supporting Mexican women. The ability to access mental health services that are culturally responsive can contribute to positive psychological outcomes which can improve and increase their resiliency. These findings can inform social work policy and practices for an ever-expanding Latinx population that has chosen to call the United States home.