The Dane County Board of Supervisors officially recognized July 2026 as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month on Thursday night. The board passed 2026 RES-079 to mark this observance and affirm its commitment to the mental health and well-being of BIPOC communities across the county.
The resolution acknowledges that BIPOC communities continue to face barriers to accessing behavioral health services as a result of longstanding inequities, stigma, and gaps in culturally responsive care.
“When people feel seen, they begin to heal. When communities feel valued, they become stronger,” said Supervisor Goodwill Obieze (District 16), who read the resolution. “Today, Dane County reaffirmed that mental health is a human right and that every resident deserves dignity, belonging, and access to compassionate care.”
The 2026 BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month theme, “More Good Days, Together,” reflects the understanding that mental well-being is strengthened through community, trusted relationships, culturally responsive care, and environments where individuals feel seen, supported, and connected.
The board recognized the work of organizations and partnerships across Dane County that are advancing community-centered approaches to mental health care, including The African Center for Community Development, The Hmong Institute, Centro Hispano of Dane County, Urban Triage, The Progress Center for Black Women, The RCC Sexual Resource Center, and Reach Dane, according to a press release from the Dane County Board of Supervisors. It also recognized the Dane County BIPOC Mental Health Coalition, which partners with community-based organizations to create affinity spaces, advise agencies, and advocate for system-level change to address mental health disparities.
