Summit County Celebrates BIPOC wellness, shares 988 and local support

Photo: Photo by Omar Lopez

PARK CITY, Utah— The Summit County Health Department is asking residents to address the cultural, language, and economic hurdles that keep many Black, Latino, Indigenous, and people of color from getting mental health care as July’s Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month gets underway.

The county’s current email cites National Alliance on Mental Illness figures showing suicide is a top cause of death for Latino youth and young adults and notes that stigma, discrimination, and a shortage of bilingual providers often push care out of reach. The problem is local as well as national: about 11.4 percent of Summit County’s 43,000 residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, and more than 10 percent speak Spanish at home.

Local collaboration expands

Anna Frachou, director of the county‑run Mental Wellness Alliance, said her office has launched a community “listening tour” after providers reported a 28 percent jump in the number of youth seeking help last year. “The answers are really going to come from the community,” Frachou said, adding that access and substance‑use concerns remain pressing. Last week, she hosted a discussion in partnership with the Park City Chamber of Commerce, bringing together employers and service providers. “The need for bilingual therapists remains a critical concern in Summit County.”

The Summit County Utah Mental Wellness Alliance is a collaborative initiative committed to enhancing mental health and well-being in Summit County. The Alliance brings together community organizations, local leaders, healthcare providers, schools, donors, employers and individuals to address mental health challenges, raise awareness, and provide crucial resources for those in need.

Where to find bilingual care

Jacky’s Recovery Support Services, 1885 W. Ute Blvd., offers peer support and therapy in English and Spanish; appointments at 435‑274‑2936.

Christian Center of Park City’s Counseling & Wellness Center has Spanish‑speaking therapists and sliding‑scale fees; 435‑649‑2260.

Jewish Family Service provides low‑cost counseling at its Prospector office, 1960 Sidewinder Dr., Suite 103. Sessions are typically $5–$10 on a sliding scale.

The People’s Health Clinic is a volunteer-driven, community supported non-profit clinic providing high quality, no cost healthcare to uninsured residents. 650 Round Valley Dr, Park City, UT 84060, (435) 333-1850

Holy Cross Ministries  is a non-profit organization that responds to the needs of the underserved community’s need for health and well-being. (801) 261-3440

Free training and safety nets

The Health Department also runs or hosts:

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training that pairs law‑enforcement officers with mental‑health professionals.

QPR suicide‑prevention classes that teach residents to “Question, Persuade, Refer.”

Mental Health First Aid courses are open to the public several times a year.

Residents can download the SafeUT app for 24/7 chat support or sign up for QPR and Mental Health First Aid classes through the department’s website.

“Being open‑minded about the experiences of others and sharing resources can make a life‑saving difference,” the Health Department email said, adding that advocacy should extend beyond July.

Officials encourage neighbors to post hotline numbers on social media, ask employers to add bilingual benefits and volunteer with local nonprofits so “every Summit County resident, regardless of background, can reach the help they need.”