July is Minority Mental Health Month, a time to elevate awareness around the varied mental health needs of different communities. This national observance, established in honor of mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell, highlights the need for culturally responsive care, stigma reduction, and expanded access to resources for historically underserved populations.
As an example of Vaya’s commitment to the communities we serve, Vaya’s Health Education and Aging Resource Team (HEART)—formerly known as GAST—held its first fully Spanish-language mental health education session. The class, titled “Una Descripción General de la Salud Mental (An Overview of Mental Health) ,” occurred on July 9 at the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center (RHSC) in Salisbury.
Led by Vaya’s Amy Penley, HEART Clinician, the course is designed specifically for caregivers of older adults and aims to de-mystify common mental health conditions in aging populations. Participants learned about treatment options, explored the differences between mental health and mental illness, and gained practical tools to help reduce stigma within their communities. Amy, who is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDN), is also a fluent Spanish speaker.
This program is an important step forward in making mental health education more accessible to Spanish-speaking residents and reflects a broader commitment to the whole-person health of these communities.
The class was hosted at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, a vital community hub for Rowan County residents aged 55 years and older. RHSC provides a welcoming space for older adults to connect through social, physical, and intellectual programs, and has been recognized as North Carolina’s first Senior Center of Excellence as well as the state’s first nationally accredited senior center.
RHSC offers a robust calendar of programs, classes, and group activities:
- Open Mondays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fitness classes are available both in-person and virtually, with pool and fitness equipment offered during select hours
- Multiple lunch clubs meet weekly for meals, community, and cultural programming —including a Latino Lunch Club held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month
To inquire about RHSC’s fitness programs, call 704-216-7701. For lunch club sign-ups, contact Callie Smith, Nutrition Manager, at nutrition@ruftyholmes.org or call 704-216-7702. To meet with a staff member, please call 704-216-7714 to schedule an appointment.
With this Spanish-language class and its focus on mental health in aging populations, Vaya and RHSC are proud to support the goals of Minority Mental Health Month: to ensure that every individual—regardless of age, language, or background—has access to mental health information, care, and support.
