The Role of Telepsychology Training Clinics in Addressing Health Disparities With Rural Latinx Immigrant Communities

Hispanic individuals comprise the largest immigrant group in the United States, consisting of 55.3 million individuals (Lewis, 2017). Of this group, 23.5% reside in poverty and 24.3% lack health insurance (Lewis, 2017). Latinx populations have the highest uninsured rate compared to other ethnic/racial groups in the United States (DeNavas-Walt, Proctor, & Lee, 2006). Unfortunately, systemic and structural factors contribute to disparate health outcomes for this population. Rural Latinx immigrant populations face even greater barriers to access adequate behavioral and medical health care. Informed by the Psychosocial Stress Model of Health Disparities, this article argues for the utility of integrated behavioral health care to reduce health disparities among racial-ethnic minority groups, most especially rural Latinx immigrants. Moreover, we recommend the integration of telepsychology services to further enhance access to care for this population. Academic training programs are positioned well to establish these services and positively impact health disparities. We outline a psychosocial and contextually driven solution to establish integrated telepsychology behavioral health care training clinics. Specific details regarding the establishment of integrated behavioral health care specialty training, and recommendations for the utility of telepsychology, are provided.