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At Emerald City Fired Arts in Seattle, WA, Consejo Counseling and Referral Service's Grupo de Bienestar participants are deep in creative concentration - painting clay animals, bowls, and mugs. In the colorful sun-kissed studio, among the chatter and clinking of paintbrushes, you might think this is simply a field trip to paint pottery together. But something larger is taking place beneath the surface – healing.
Since 1978, Consejo Counseling and Referral Service has provided the Latinx/Hispanic community in King County with almost 50 years of culturally relevant mental, behavioral, and social health services. In a state where only 3.4% of providers are Latinx/Hispanic, and of those, only 70% speak Spanish, Consejo's Grupo de Bienestar is a vital bridge for older adults and adults with disabilities - where culturally and linguistically competent whole-person care is at the center.
“Just like we go to the doctor to relieve some pain, our emotions require attention too. We, as physical and emotional persons, also require attention.” - Paty, Legacy Bienestar Member
In community listening sessions to ground-truth data for HealthierHere’s Landscape Assessment, lack of mental health data, specifically around mental health for aging populations was a frequently mentioned gap, indicating the need to better understand the mental health challenges and priorities in our communities. With over 70% of elderly adults living with one or more chronic conditions in King County, a person's risk of developing anxiety or depression is increased. And in Washington, 7.8 percent of elderly adults aged 65 and over report frequent mental distress. Through the lens of whole person care, when mental health issues go untreated, the ripple effect can have lasting consequences – people’s work performance can decline, relationships are affected, and physical health suffers.
In the Latinx/Hispanic community, a lot of stigma exists around asking for mental health support. Culturally, experiencing mental conditions is often seen as being “crazy” or “lazy”, and individuals are taught to put their families first, before prioritizing their own health and wellness. In addition, the financial costs of health insurance are a huge barrier to accessing help. 92% of people using Consejo’s services live in households under federal poverty guidelines, and most are uninsured or are Medicaid beneficiaries. Transportation access is also an issue, and many individuals cannot get to the physical locations where services are provided.
For Legacy Grupo de Bienestar member Ricardo, mental health struggles almost took his life after suffering a stroke. With the support of Grupo de Bienestar, he was able to get back on his feet. Ricardo shared, “When I had the stroke... I lost my truck, I lost my landscaping company and I went into a very deep depression. I even thought about committing suicide, but thanks to Consejo, it helped me a lot...being in this group I forget about my problems, I forget everything that has happened to me... I have already faced death three times, but this group has given me a lot of encouragement to move forward.”
Stories like Ricardo’s are testament to the community of support built within Grupo de Bienestar. Bienestar Co-Facilitator and Behavioral Health Therapist Jailene Sanchez shares, “This group has been a really great example of how mental health and groups inside the mental health program can create communities. A lot of people in this group today have each other's phone numbers and text and call each other all the time. You can see the friendships and long-standing relationships that have been created.”
Every Thursday, group members gather to learn from each other and openly discuss mental health without stigma. Even though the group is designed for adults and older adults, all ages are welcomed to Grupo de Bienestar, from the children of participants to the group's centenarian, Matilde, who is turning 102 years old this year and continues to bring vital energy and wisdom to the group.
No two Thursday gatherings of Grupo de Bienestar are alike. Still, activities always incorporate clinical elements, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. “We can make any case clinical because it is real life. So, the group combines socialization and art activities and some mild psychoeducation,” says Mercede Webb, Lead Peer Recovery Specialist and Primary Group Facilitator.
An additional facet of Grupo de Bienestar’s programming is utilizing the Zero Suicide Framework, a system-wide effort to reduce suicide rates. Along with screening for depression, Bienestar provides individuals with continuity of care and tailored treatments, emphasizing safety, resilience, and connection.
What sets Grupo de Bienestar apart from other support groups is its peer-led model. Program staff share lived experiences and cultural backgrounds of participants and utilize strengths-based and trauma informed principles in a non-hierarchical environment.
Webb joined Consejo and Bienestar in 2022 when she realized that the culture of corporate America was counterproductive to maintaining the years of mental wellness that she worked so hard to maintain. Having faced many of the mental health struggles and barriers that current participants have experienced herself (such as trauma, poverty, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, social disconnection, isolation, loss of economic security and social status, societal stigma, loss of hope, etc.), Webb has found her purpose as a peer, ensuring others know that they can find healing and a path forward through listening, mentorship and empowerment.
She shares, “I think one of the biggest uphill battles in our own personal lives is that we just want to be seen and heard, not fixed. Yet it's really uncomfortable when we love someone and we can't fix them. And so, we don't know how to just be with them. But in the peer-to-peer world, we do know how. And that's a big part because, you know, we have the experience and so we do know how to be with people.”
Coming to Grupo de Bienestar and being surrounded by peers like Webb and Sanchez has made invaluable impacts in the lives of the participants beyond just mental health. Mauricio, one of the members, has now been sober for years after a long struggle with addiction. “In 2014 I suffered a drug overdose, and I was left with many emotional problems,” said Mauricio, “I joined Consejo in 2016 and here, they have helped me a lot to treat my mental health and I was able to quit my addictions. The depression is over, none of that. I value life more, self-love towards myself.”
Legacy member Maria also feels the group has provided solidarity for her after being diagnosed with cancer. “The solidarity with me when I had surgery of breast cancer last year and I felt a lot of empathy from her, from Miss Meche, from my colleagues, from the nurse, from the psychiatrist at that time,” Maria shared, “Thank God I have had much solidarity. I am very grateful to Consejo. I’m always making sure to come on Thursdays. I am hardly absent.”
For decades now, Latinx/Hispanic communities have struggled to navigate complex and burdensome health and social systems that do not reflect their language, culture, or lived experiences. Programs like Grupo de Bienestar are powerful examples of what can be possible when care is rooted in cultural understanding, community connection, and compassion. Real healing happens when individuals feel seen, heard, and supported—not just as patients, but as whole people.
What can be done?
Urge Providers to:
- Increase hiring and coaching of bilingual and multicultural employees, particularly those with lived experience of mental health recovery.
- Provide ongoing training on culturally responsive and trauma-informed care, with an emphasis on understanding the unique experiences of BIPOC and immigrant communities.
- Create safe spaces where individuals can speak openly about struggles – without stigma through peer-led support circles or culturally grounded healing spaces.
- Integrate peer specialists into clinical teams to bridge trust between individuals and providers.
- Involve community voices in program design and evaluation processes.
Support Initiatives that:
- Ensure wraparound supports are available – such as transportation, childcare, and flexible scheduling – to reduce barriers to participation.
- Expand access to holistic and integrative mental health services, including peer support, behavioral health counseling, and wellness activities.
- Promote mental health and recovery interventions rooted in community wisdom, traditional healing, and cultural knowledge.
Learn More
About Consejo:
Latinx/Hispanic Resources for Mental Health
- Hispanic Federation – Resources and Advocacy for Mental Health
- NAMI Compartiendo Esperanza – Education and Support for Latinx Families with Mental Health Conditions
Further Reading
About Whole Together
HealthierHere is on a journey with our partners and community to ensure every person in King County has equitable access to the care, support, and resources they need to thrive. The Whole Together video series explores different aspects of whole-person care, and how HealthierHere's partner organizations are fostering innovative and culturally responsive approaches to improving the health and well-being of the communities they serve.