July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the US. Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender, or identity.

APPROXIMATELY 75% OF NSCHC PATIENTS ARE A RACIAL OR ETHNIC MINORITY

Racial and ethnic minorities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes due to multiple factors, including lack of access to quality mental health care services, cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, discrimination, and overall lack of awareness about mental health.

In 2020, NSCHC launched the Behavioral Health department under the leadership of Dr. Cathy Sigmund. Dr. Sigmund specializes in developing culturally informed behavioral health and community wellness services within the ethnic minority, refugee, immigrant, and other underserved communities.