Bridging Gaps in Mental Health Care

Culturally responsive mental health care looks different for every individual. Texas already faces a shortage of mental health care providers and providers of color are even harder to find. These Central Texas organizations are dedicated to delivering culturally appropriate care, programming and support.

In July of 2025, St. David’s Foundation launched the Culturally Responsive Mental Health Support funding opportunity, focused on increasing the number of Central Texans from historically marginalized communities receiving culturally responsive mental health and well-being support. This open call awarded $4.2M through 33 grants and 55% of recipient organizations were first-time grantees.

Texas ranks last in the nation for access to insurance and mental health care, highlighting significant disparities. Systemic barriers and inequitable policies continue to hinder access to essential mental health resources for historically marginalized groups. For people of color, mistrust of the medical system remains a major obstacle.  A lack of cultural understanding by mental healthcare providers may contribute to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of mental health disorders in people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Additional challenges, such as high costs, transportation and stigma, further restrict access to resources.

The Foundation is committed to making culturally responsive mental health care more accessible for Central Texans from historically marginalized communities that respect their racial and cultural identities in trusted spaces in the community. The grant initiative emphasizes preventative care, non-clinical and community-based programming and direct impact on mental health or well-being. For 30 years, St. David’s Foundation has been committed to investing in organizations and programs that support the mental health and wellness of our Central Texas community.

For almost 80 years, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May. The first observance began in the United States in 1949, initiated by Mental Health America, with the purpose of raising awareness and educating the public about mental disorders and strategies for attaining mental health and wellness. This year’s theme is “More Good Days, Together,” which will focus on building community support and exploring what contributes to “good” days.

As the Foundation observes Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite you to learn more about our grantees through spotlights and hear directly from them about the significance of this work.

These conversations have been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.

Based in Bastrop County, HEAL Alliance’s mission is to center healing, community, and transformation for those who feel the impacts of historical trauma. By focusing on these goals, HEAL Alliance works to create lasting belonging in rural Texas communities.

Krystal Grimes grew up in Queens, New York, and later moved to Bastrop, Texas, to be closer to her parents, one of whom is native to Bastrop County. As a rural mental health strategist, Grimes has dedicated years to community-led work in rural areas. A proud mother of two, she founded HEAL Alliance in 2022 after listening deeply to community needs.

With support from the Foundation, HEAL Alliance has been able to reach rural populations often excluded from traditional mental health systems. The organization now empowers rural youth through peer-led, community-based mental health and wellness initiatives.

Can you talk about mental health access for your community? 

In communities of color, mental health is very stigmatized. So if it's either you need to go to church, keep our secrets in the family, or seek out other help, you may be seen as weak. But it's harder for Black and communities of color to navigate traditional mental health spaces. I do think that mental health is becoming a little more normalized. The beauty of awareness is that we have come to realize we need more people who look like us to help us through our most intimate moments.

What do you want people to take away from Mental Health Awareness Month? 

I want rural community members to know they’re not alone. There are organizations dedicated to understanding and supporting you. Storytelling is especially important in mental health, it’s powerful to share your story and connect with others who understand.

Why do you love doing this work? 

What keeps me motivated is remembering where I come from. I’m a descendant of people who sacrificed so we could have a better future, and that inspires me to give back.

This work isn’t just about immediate results, it’s about creating lasting change for our children and grandchildren. By building a sense of belonging, fostering conversation, and encouraging storytelling, we can help people see one another with greater empathy and humanity.

For over thirty years, Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA) has supported Asian families with resources who are dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking. AFSSA was one of the organizations in this cohort to receive a grant for the very first time. AFSSA provides services in over 30 different languages to 10 counties in Central Texas. 

St. David’s Foundation’s investment has enabled AFSSA to offer culturally responsive mental health support for Asian and Asian-heritage survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Central Texas. This support includes expanding language-specific peer groups and training community members as facilitators. These efforts have increased AFSSA’s capacity to connect survivors with meaningful, culturally informed, and language-accessible mental and emotional health resources.

Recently, AFSSA hosted their “PARTners in Progress” event, a day of gathering that celebrates healing, togetherness and collective action. Participants were able to choose one of three tracks: “Community Healing,” “Intergenerational Justice” or “Resistance in Narratives.”

Can you talk about mental health access for your community? 

Samira: There are real challenges—like language barriers, lack of transportation, or being new to the country. Shame and stigma around mental health in the Asian community often keep people from reaching out for help or sharing their struggles.

What do you want people to take away from Mental Health Awareness Month? 

Ai:  You’re not alone. Many in our community feel isolated and believe there’s no one to help them, but there’s a shared humanity in both our joys and our struggles. We can support each other by recognizing we’re all in this together.

Why do you do this work? 

Samira: This is my life’s work and calling, to help survivors in their darkest days when they need us most. I know what it feels like, and it gives me joy and strength to work alongside powerful community members who are fiercely fighting to break the cycle of violence. Our goal is to empower and educate survivors so they can voice their needs and be free from violence and psychological harm. We also work with young people to help break this cycle.

Ai: It’s definitely hard work, but it’s also very rewarding. I feel humbled and grateful to do this work, to wake up and know I’m making a difference in someone’s life. Giving back to my community is also a way of healing myself.

Rainbow Connections ATX was established through the Foundation’s investment in Family Eldercare, aiming to provide culturally responsive mental health support for older adults and queer seniors. Program coordinator, World Famous *BOB* has served queer seniors with initiatives like Campfire Queer Storytime, Queer Elder Wig Party and rural virtual tea socials, uplifting peer leaders and elders as facilitators, storytellers, and trainers. These efforts are expanding a network of culturally responsive mental health allies in Central Texas.

Masha Davis is one of the seniors who found a sense of belonging with Rainbow Connections ATX. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Davis enjoyed a successful career in technology and patents. Inspired by her trans son’s journey, Davis came out and transitioned much later in life.

“I had a crush on two girls in high school, and I realized the reason I was so attracted to them was that they were tomboys and I wanted to be just like them,” said Davis.

Davis’ first experience with Rainbow Connections ATX was attending one of the Campfire Queer Storytime events, where she shared her story on stage. “It was nice to tell your truth and your story and it’s a special community,” Davis reflected.

“There’s a phenomenon called existential dysphoria—growing up in the wrong sex or gender and missing out on so many life experiences. I suffered from that,” Davis explained. Now, however, she is happy: she has found community, rediscovered her faith and become an advocate in the queer community.

Rainbow Connections ATX hosted a prom night, which Davis attended with her wife. “It was so wonderful to share this experience with her. The events from Rainbow Connections ATX have truly improved my mental health. I love this community.”

Q&A with World Famous *BOB*:

Can you talk about mental health access for your community? 

It’s vital for the mental health of queer elders to be both celebrated and included, they are valuable. My activism centers on creating spaces where people can connect. It’s a challenging time: defunding of nonprofits and aggressive legislation threaten resources and even the existence of entire communities. Now, more than ever, we need increased support and resources for queer elders.

What do you want people to take away from Mental Health Awareness Month? 

Mental Health Awareness Month matters because it sparks vital conversations and campaigns like this one. I’ve lost friends, people I loved and hoped to grow old with, simply because they lacked resources or support. It’s crucial to remember that someone can be struggling, even if they don’t appear to need help.

This month is an opportunity to consider how we raise the topic of mental health, how we can talk about it without making it feel heavy or overwhelming. The more open we are, the more likely people are to ask for help. We’re all in this together. At our core, we’re human beings who want to be safe, to be loved and to see our loved ones safe as well.

Why do you love doing this work? 

I love this work because it gives me what I need—a sense of family. I was thrown out of my home at 15 for being bisexual, so I set out to build my chosen family. I longed for a little sister, a drag mom and queer elders. That’s why this work means so much to me.

AVANCE - Austin is the Central Texas chapter of AVANCE, founded over 50 years ago with a mission to provide parents with the resources and support they need at home so their children can thrive. In Austin, AVANCE used the investment to expand culturally rooted, non-clinical mental health supports for Latina mothers through two strategies: enhancing emotional wellness tools and scaling the peer-led Healthy Moms Charlas group model. 

Maggie Jamie, the executive director, shared that the expansion of Charlas groups has been significant, now serving up to 120 mothers. This peer-led support group, which offers free childcare, is rooted in the Latino tradition of gathering around storytelling. Each year, AVANCE - Austin strengthens the mental and emotional well-being of approximately 900 participating family members.

Can you talk about mental health access for your community? 

Mental health services are essential. We serve Latino women and their young children, and while parenting is one of life’s greatest joys, it can also be incredibly challenging. For marginalized communities, accessing resources is even more difficult, not just because of language, cost, insurance, or transportation, but also due to a lack of cultural awareness. Will the provider truly understand and meet their needs?

What do you want people to take away from Mental Health Awareness Month?

Mental health doesn’t have to begin with a diagnosis or crisis, it can start with a conversation. Sometimes it’s about building a community of women, listening to others, and simply feeling heard and seen. Mental health support doesn’t always have to be clinical; it can thrive in community-based programs rooted in cultural relevance.

Why do you love doing this work? 

I love this work because I’ve always lived by the mantra: service before self. As members of any great community, we need to invest in the people we live with and share space with. Supporting others in all aspects of their lives is essential.