Honoring Latina Voices in Mental Health during Hispanic Heritage Month

At Daughters of Both Suns, Hispanic Heritage Month is more than a celebration of history and culture; it’s a time to honor the leaders in our communities who are reimagining what healing looks like for Black and Latina women. Mental health advocacy is strongest when it’s rooted in culture, lived experience, and a deep commitment to breaking cycles of silence and stigma.

This year, we’re spotlighting Latina mental health advocates who embody this vision, including Genesis Gutiérrez and Yaris Sanchez, women who have used their voices and platforms to shift the conversation around mental health and healing.

Courtesy of Genesis Gutiérrez by Business Insider

Genesis Gutiérrez: Bridging Culture and Healing

Genesis Gutiérrez is the founder of Harness, a therapeutic community for women that centers culture, identity, and collective healing. Her own journey shapes her commitment to ensuring that mental health care reflects the realities of those it serves. Through her work, Genesis highlights the power of culturally grounded therapy and the need for resources that honor the full identities of Latinx communities. By addressing the intersections of trauma, migration, and resilience, she reminds us that healing is not a weakness but a profound strength.

Courtesy of Yaris Sanchez

Yaris Sanchez: Breaking Silence, Building Empowerment

Yaris has used her platform to empower women through physical and mental health. Her page, Dalai Mama World, helps create a space for others to step into their healing without shame. She models the power of speaking up, showing that your voice can be a tool for both personal and community transformation.

Why Their Work Matters to Us

Advocates like Genesis and Yaris remind us that representation and cultural context are not optional; they are essential to healing. Their leadership underscores what we see every day in our work; that when women are supported by care that honors their culture and lived experience, they are better equipped to break cycles of trauma, reclaim their voices, and lead their communities toward resilience.

Their voices echo our mission: to create pathways for healing by expanding access to mental health support and connecting communities of women together. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the traditions, resilience, and voices of Latina advocates who are reshaping the landscape of mental health. By celebrating their work and honoring shared heritage, we recommit ourselves to building spaces where Black and Latina women can heal fully, thrive boldly, and know they are never alone.