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By Pamela Kurtzman, Chief Executive Officer, Sequoia Healthcare District
September is more than a month of awareness. It is an opportunity to ask whether we are doing enough to make mental health care accessible to the people who need it.
Following Mental Health Awareness Month in May, September brings National Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month. These observances create important opportunities for families, schools, health care providers and communities to talk openly about mental health, substance use, resilience and emotional well-being.
Those conversations matter because mental health is not separate from health. It is health. And just as we invest in preventing, treating and managing physical illness, we must make sustained investments in the mental health and well-being of people of every age. Access to mental health care should be treated as an essential part of a healthy community, not an afterthought when someone reaches a crisis.
Mental health needs do not begin or end at a particular stage of life. Children and young people may face anxiety, depression, trauma, social isolation or challenges at school and home. Adults may struggle with stress, financial pressures, substance use, caregiving responsibilities or other life circumstances. Older adults may experience grief, loneliness, changes in independence and isolation. At every age, timely support can make a meaningful – and even life-saving – difference.
But awareness alone is not enough. People need access to services when and where they need them. That requires investment in prevention, early intervention, counseling, crisis response, treatment and community-based organizations that understand the unique needs of the people they serve.
This is where Sequoia Healthcare District plays an important role in advancing the health and well-being of the residents we serve throughout southern San Mateo County.
Our mission is to improve the health of District residents by enhancing access to care and promoting wellness through responsible stewardship of public resources. Our vision is that all District residents experience optimal physical and mental health at every stage of life.
We work to turn that vision into action by investing in community-based organizations that make mental health services more accessible. We view our grants not simply as funding, but as investments in the health of our families, friends and neighbors. The return is measured not only in improved individual well-being, but also in stronger families, greater stability, healthier communities and a more vibrant economy.
Over the past three years, Sequoia Healthcare District has awarded nearly $15 million in grants supporting a broad range of community-based behavioral health programs. These investments support counseling and mentoring, bereavement services, behavioral health treatment, family-centered mental health programs and crisis intervention for people of all ages.
Our commitment also extends to youth, where the need for mental health services continues to grow while access to care often struggles to keep pace. Supporting young people early can build resilience, strengthen their ability to navigate challenges and prevent problems from becoming crises. Recent District investments have supported school-based counseling, mental health assessments, depression screening, social-emotional learning, trauma treatment, mentoring and other services.
This community-based approach is intentional. No single organization can meet the mental health needs of an entire community. Schools, health care providers, nonprofits, local governments, families and community leaders all have a role to play. We must also ensure services are culturally responsive, accessible and available to people who may face barriers to care.
Funding services is essential, but it is only part of the solution. We also must continue reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. Asking for help should be recognized as an act of strength, not weakness. Conversations about depression, anxiety, addiction, grief and suicidal thoughts should be as accepted as conversations about high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.
September gives us another reason to amplify those conversations. It should not give us a reason to stop them when the calendar turns to the next month.
Pamela Kurtzman is CEO of Sequoia Healthcare District, a local government agency serving approximately 250,000 residents in central and southern San Mateo County. She has worked with the District since 2006 and has served as CEO since 2018, leading efforts to strengthen access to healthcare and address emerging community health needs. A longtime San Mateo County healthcare advocate and community leader, she holds a master’s degree in healthcare policy and management from SUNY Stony Brook.
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