Healing Begins with Belonging: A Reflection on Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Last updated: July 27, 2026, at 5:14 a.m. PT
Originally published: July 27, 2026, at 5:14 a.m. PT
By Sierra Molton, Senior Director - Behavioral Health Programs & Kirsten Poma, Northshore Y Branch Executive Director
There are few things more human than asking for help. Yet for many people, it is one of the hardest things to do. Not because they lack courage or don't recognize they need support, but because too many barriers stand in the way. Finding affordable care, navigating unfamiliar systems, and taking time away from work or family are all barriers to care.
Healing begins with belonging. It begins when someone knows they don't have to navigate life's challenges alone. It begins when a community makes it easier, not harder, to reach out. Every community deserves that opportunity, yet not every community experiences it equally. That's why Minority Mental Health Awareness Month matters.
Observed each July, Minority Mental Health Awareness Month recognizes the mental health inequities experienced by many racial and ethnic groups and other historically underserved communities, while encouraging conversations that reduce stigma and improve access to care.
Conversations around mental health have become more common in recent years, yet access to care has not improved equally for everyone. According to federal health data, fewer than 50% of Black adults who needed mental health care were able to access it. Asian Americans were 60% less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic Whites. Reducing these disparities starts with recognizing that effective mental health care isn't one-size-fits-all. Care should reflect the cultures, languages, and lived experiences of the communities it serves.
Too many individuals and families continue to face barriers rooted in cost, language, transportation, stigma, and longstanding inequities. Mental health also doesn't exist in isolation. Stable housing, reliable transportation, nutritious food, childcare, meaningful employment, and strong social connections all influence a person's well-being. At the YMCA of Greater Seattle, we believe whole-person health means addressing those realities together. That is why our work extends beyond counseling.
Every day, our Community Health Hub team helps individuals and families navigate the challenges that affect health and well-being. Resource Navigators connect people to essentials like housing, food, employment, childcare, health care, and public benefits, while licensed behavioral health professionals provide counseling and mental health support.
That vision is expanding in the coming months with the opening of our newest Community Health Hub at the Northshore YMCA campus in Bothell — bringing together behavioral health counseling, resource navigation, chronic disease prevention, and crisis response under one roof.
The Northshore Community Health Hub is made possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of our staff, volunteers and community partners, including the City of Bothell, HealthierHere, Senator Patty Murray, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), King County and many more.
Over 150 years of serving the Puget Sound region, the Y has learned that no single service changes a life on its own. Lasting well-being comes when people have connected support that recognizes the whole person. That's the vision behind our Community Health Hub model and the work we continue to build every day.
We also know that access alone isn't enough; trust matters too. That's why we believe care should be culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and rooted in trust. For many people, the challenge isn't simply finding mental health care. It's finding care where they feel understood. Experiences with discrimination, cultural stigma, language barriers, or not seeing providers who reflect their lived experiences can make asking for help even harder.
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that creating healthier communities means more than talking about mental health. It means removing barriers, investing in trust, and making sure every person knows where they can turn when they need support.
As we expand our Community Health Hub to the Northshore YMCA campus in Bothell, we're continuing a commitment by making it easier for every person to find support, build connection, and know they belong.
Whether you're looking for support or looking for ways to support others, we're here to help. Learn more about the YMCA Community Health Hub and available services . If you'd like to help expand access to care across our region, consider donating or volunteering with the Y.