Psychiatric training issues: the Puerto Rican perspective

Abstract

A critical aspect of the problem of mental health service delivery to Hispanics is the inadequacy of manpower resources, especially the lack of professional workers with a knowledge of the Hispanic culture and language. Two factors--underrepresentation of Hispanics at professional levels and curriculum deficits in training programs--account for the persistence of inadequate manpower. The author discusses both themes from the Puerto Rican perspective, emphasizing the development of didactic and practical learning experiences for both Puerto Rican and non-Hispanic trainees and their implications for diagnosis and treatment. Training models are discussed.