May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to recognize the importance of emotional well-being and reduce the stigma associated with mental health care. For many professionals, workplace experiences significantly influence mental health. Workplaces are where we spend most of our day, away from our family and loved ones. While there are many intersections between mental health and work, one topic that can feel especially hard and isolating to navigate is grief after a job loss. Whether the reason is termination, layoffs, or department changes, the emotional impact on an individual’s mental health is often more profound than people realize.

According to the American Psychological Association’s 2024 Work in America Survey, job loss remains one of the most psychologically distressing experiences an individual can face, often triggering depression, anxiety, and identity loss. The survey highlights that the mental health consequences of job loss are not evenly distributed across racial, ethnic, or gender lines. For Latinas in the U.S., these outcomes are often intensified by preexisting inequalities in the labor market and healthcare systems, compounded by societal and cultural expectations of women in the workforce.

Latinas continue to experience structural inequities in employment, from underrepresentation in leadership roles to pay disparities and job insecurity. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024), Latinas have a labor force participation rate of approximately 59%, yet remain underrepresented in corporate and marketing leadership positions. This unequal standing contributes to greater vulnerability in times of economic uncertainty. Layoffs are more likely to affect Latinas employed in non-executive roles or in companies that lack diversity commitments or inclusive retention strategies.

Navigating Grief y la Presión Cultural

Job loss affects more than one’s income—it disrupts identity, routines, and social belonging. For many, careers are tied to purpose and family pride. For others, our work title is how we first introduce ourselves to people we meet. Therefore, a change in title and organization can leave one feeling lost and, at times, ashamed. This can lead to internalized shame or fear of disappointing others, which can significantly impact mental health.

Many Latinas grow up in environments where mental health is not openly discussed or prioritized. The expectation to be “strong” or “agradecida” often silences emotional processing. Research from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) suggests that Latinx adults are less likely to seek mental health care than their white counterparts due to language barriers, stigma, cost, and lack of culturally competent providers. However, grieving a job loss is valid and necessary. It’s not only about what was lost—but also what it symbolized: progress, security, and dreams.

Your Skills Are Tuyos

A common myth perpetuated by corporate culture is that our worth is tied to our employer and our title. In reality, your skills, insights, and experiences are assets that belong to you, not your former company. Layoffs do not erase the campaigns you led, the brands you helped grow, or the relationships you built.

As career theorist Herminia Ibarra explains in her Harvard Business Review article, “Reinventing Your Career — When It’s Not Just About You,” job loss can serve as a unique opportunity to reframe one’s career narrative around personal values and purpose. Instead of internalizing a layoff as a failure, consider it a forced invitation to recalibrate. This perspective is particularly critical for Latinas who may have been the only or the first in a professional setting, and whose contributions are often underrecognized.

Grieving a job loss is valid. Allow yourself to feel. Seek out culturally competent therapy — it’s essential for healing and reprocessing the trauma of job loss in ways that affirm your cultural identity. A layoff doesn’t mean isolation. Instead of rushing into the next opportunity out of fear, pause and assess your long-term goals. Find out qué te suma in your next role, y no lo que te restaban.

Mental health should not be a secondary concern—it is foundational to career sustainability, confidence, and creativity. As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite Latinas and allies in the marketing space to reflect on how job structures impact well-being and how we can collectively advocate for compassionate and inclusive workplaces.

If you’ve been laid off, fired, or forced to walk away, you are not broken, nor alone. You are in transición. You are worthy of healing, of care, and of professional spaces that uplift you.

Let this be the month you reclaim tu historia.

Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you know is struggling, here are some helpful resources:

• Latinx Therapy – Directory of bilingual, culturally aware mental health professionals.
• Therapy for Latinx – Mental health support and therapist database for the Latinx community.
• NAMI Helpline – National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HELPLINE” to 62640.
• Mental Health America – Screening tools, resources, and information.

Disclaimer:
This article is intended for informational and reflective purposes only and does not constitute medical or psychological advice. If you are experiencing emotional distress, grief, or mental health challenges, please seek support from a licensed mental health professional. No estas sola—support is available.