San Mateo County is recognizing this year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance with a flag-raising and speakers on Wednesday, November 13, from 9:00-9:30am. Supervisor Pine will be sharing remarks as well as Venus Itzuri Perez-Hernandez from Mariposa Outreach. The flag-raising is open to everyone and will be in the County Courtyard at 500 County Center Redwood City.
Please feel free to share this flyer widely.
Thank you!
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skill-based training program which helps you understand mental health and substance use matters. As a First Aider, you will identify signs of mental health and substance use matters in people and reach out to provide initial first-aid support. The Mental Health First Aid ALGEE Action Plan gives you the proper tools to support, encourage and connect people to the appropriate resources and treatments.
More info and registration at SMCHealth.org/MHFA.
Upcoming trainings:
In-Person Youth Mental Health First Aid for Tribal Communities and Indigenous Peoples. This is in-person training.
Sat. 11/23/2024 9:00am – 6:00pm
Location: Le Maota, 833 Mahler Road Burlingame, CA
Blended virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid
Tue. 11/26/24 9:00am – 3:30pm
Blended In-Person Adult Mental Health First Aid. This course focuses on adults supporting adults 18 years old and older. This is a blended in-person training course where registrants will need to complete a 2-hour self-paced course, prior to attending in-person on the scheduled date. Registration is required to attend.
Thursday 12/12/24 9:00am – 4:00pm
Location: S. San Francisco
For more information and registration: bit.ly/ThriveMind
Blended virtual Adult Mental Health First Aid. This course focuses on adults supporting adults 18 years old and older. This is a blended virtual training course where registrants will need to complete a 2-hour self-paced course, prior to attending zoom on the scheduled date. Registration is required to attend.
Friday 12/13/24 9:00am – 4:00pm
For more information and registration: bit.ly/ThriveMind
On Friday, September 27, the Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) celebrated its 15th anniversary at the South San Francisco Public Library. The event brought together 150 community members, partners, and BHRS staff to commemorate ODE’s remarkable journey.
The evening featured cultural performances, leadership reflections, and a tribute to ODE’s ongoing impact on behavioral health in San Mateo County. A candlelight ceremony symbolized the collective effort to ignite meaningful change and foster hope and healing for all.
Key highlights included:
ODE’s work transcends services, focusing on breaking down barriers and amplifying marginalized voices. Over the years, ODE has driven initiatives like Health Equity Initiatives, the Mental Health Services Act, and culturally informed trainings that have reshaped behavioral health care in San Mateo County.
Thank you to everyone—past and present—who contributed to ODE’s success. We look forward to many more years of progress and partnership!
It is that wonderful time of year! 
The LC is preparing to host their annual community event to support our very diverse Latino/a/x communities. This year our theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” The event will take place on Saturday, October 26th 12:30-3:30PM at the Mervin G. Morris Boys and Girls Club, 1109 Hilton Street RWC. It is a free, family event to promote behavioral health and reduce stigma, the event will be held in Spanish.
Please help us spread the word by sharing with your clients, friends and family. If you’d like to volunteer please contact Frances Lobos at FLobos@smcgov.org for more information. 
Written by Addya Agarwal, Carlmont High School
National Suicide Prevention Month in September has inspired change throughout the community, from Carlmont High School to San Mateo County.
Multiple organizations, including the Carlmont Students Offering Support (SOS) program and the San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee, have been focusing their efforts on raising awareness and preventing suicides.
“Our goal is to reduce stigma around suicide and remove barriers that prevent access to resources. Some of the barriers include stigma and lack of information, so we really want to reduce those barriers for the community and increase residents’ connections to help,” San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee Co-Chair Sylvia Tang said.
Read the full article here: https://scotscoop.com/san-mateo-county-furthers-suicide-prevention-measures
Trust your instincts— if someone in your life is showing signs of suicide, including unusual behavior, it’s time to have a conversation. You could start by saying: “You don’t seem like yourself lately. How can I help?” To learn the signs of suicide, visit https://takeaction4mh.com/resources/how-to-recognize-the-warning-signs-of-suicide/ (link in bio)
Events happening this week:
💜 9/30 – Reconozca las Señales de Suicidio en la Comunidad Latinx at 650 Main St, Redwood City
More info at SMCSuicidePrevention.com
Whether or not you have kids, you know what it’s like to be a young person. It’s not always easy. A lot of young people are struggling with thoughts of suicide, so it’s important for them to know they have people in their corner. Check in on young people you care about, and let them know you’re here whenever they need help or just need someone to listen. For more information on suicide prevention, go to https://smcsuicideprevention.com
Events happening this week:
💜9/26 – You Matter: Youth Suicide Prevention Day at allcove in San Mateo
💜 9/30 – Reconozca las Señales de Suicidio en la Comunidad Latinx at 650 Main St, Redwood City
Help San Mateo County Health, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services improve awareness and promotion of mental health and substance use-related crisis services by completing this 5 minute survey. Your answers will remain confidential and as a thank you for your time, enter for a chance to win a $35 gift card through randomized drawings (County staff and contracted providers on paid time are not eligible for the raffle). To choose another language for the survey, please click the dropdown icon located in the upper right corner of the screen. Please complete the survey and share with your networks by Friday October 4. Your participation is valued, thank you.
Primary survey link:
Translated links:
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Latest Updates
Monthly Meetings
UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
09/26/2024
VIRTUAL VIA ZOOM
Thursday, September 26th, 2024
1pm – 2:30 pm PDT
CDPH Office of Suicide Prevention – September Community of Practice
Registration Link
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP) is excited to continue hosting an interactive, quarterly Community of Practice webinar series.
The purpose of these meetings is to bring together our OSP partners to connect, collaborate, share, and learn from one another’s successes and challenges working on suicide prevention efforts at the local and state level.
For the September OSP Community of Practice we will focus on suicide fatality review teams, including an overview presentation from Dr. Kimberly Repp and representatives from Glenn and Los Angeles counties, sharing their experiences establishing suicide fatality review teams.
Webinar Outline:
09/26/2024
Thursday, September 26th, 2024
4pm – 6:30pm PDT
you matter. youth suicide prevention day
allcove san mateo
2600 South El Camino Drive, Suite 300
San Mateo, CA 94403
Discover the power of connection at our youth suicide prevention event! Enjoy an engaging workshop, DIY self-care activities, fun games, and a debrief session. Join us in creating a caring community where everyone feels valued and heard.
09/30/2024
Monday, September 30th, 2024
6pm – 8:30pm PDT
Reconozca las Señales de Suicidio en la Comunidad Latinx
650 Main St.,
Redwood City, CA 94063
Te invitamos a participar en un taller sobre cómo identificar las señales de suicidio, cómo tener una conversación con alguien que esta pensando terminar con su vida, qué acciones tomar y cómo buscar apoyo.
PARA REGISTRARSE CONTACTE A:
Lourdes Briseño 650-458-1128 o Rosa Bañuelos 650-703-40-94
10/01/2024
Tuesday, October 1st, 2024
10am – 12pm PDT
Loneliness to Light with David Canepa and Center for Age-Friendly Excellence (CAFE)
San Mateo County Regional Operations Center (ROC)
501 Winslow Street Redwood City, CA 94063
Come join us for an enlightening event where we will be discussing ways to combat loneliness and foster a sense of community. David Canepa and the Center for Age-Friendly Excellence (CAFE) will be sharing valuable insights and strategies to help you transition from loneliness to light. This in-person event promises to be a source of inspiration and connection. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn and grow together!
Join us to hear from experts and community organizations offering examples on how to reduce isolation and loneliness in San Mateo County!
Speakers include:
DR. ANABEL PELHAM
Center for Age-Friendly Excellence
SUPERVISOR DAVID CANEPA
San Mateo County Board
DR. CARLA PERISSINOTTO
UCSF
DR. ELISSA S. LEE
Neighbor-to-Neighbor Project
10/09/2024
Wednesday, October 9th, 2024
5pm – 6pm
Overdose Prevention Focus Group Meetings
Oceana High School
Room #404
401 Paloma Ave, Pacifica, CA
San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services and our community partners are building a coalition to address overdose and raise awareness. Please join us for a guided focus group to discuss this critical issue and ways to respond:
10/22/2024
VIRTUAL VIA ZOOM
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024
10am – 11am PDT
Overdose Prevention Focus Group Meetings
Registration is required by scanning QR code or clicking HERE.
10/24/2024
Thursday, October 24th, 2024
6:30am – 1pm PDT
2024 DRSC Safety Summit
In Person or Webinar
DRSC is a nonprofit organization made up of railroad professionals, government officials, law enforcement, engineers, educators, and private citizens who share a profound concern for safety at highway-railroad crossings and along railways. The Council was founded on April 30, 1994, as an outgrowth of a Railroad Safety Task Force called for by the Chairman of the DuPage County Board. Since that time, the Council has met regularly to examine ways to heighten awareness and improve safety at highway-railroad crossings and to work with civic, law enforcement and railroad leaders to prevent deaths and injuries along railways.
IN THE NEWS
This section includes news that intersects with our local suicide prevention work:
https://smcl.org/blogs/post/988-a-lifeline-for-mental-health-support
https://star-vista.org/news/2024/september-is-suicide-prevention-month-spm/
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES
CRISIS RESOURCES
NON-CRISIS RESOURCES
This is a two-hour foundational workshop that infuses culture and diversity throughout. The County offers a Mental Health version and a Suicide Prevention version.MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
This is an eight-hour skills-based training course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health or substance uses signs or crises. The County offers a youth and adult version of this workshop.
For more information about both trainings above, please contact: Sylvia Tang stang@smcgov.org
CALL TO ACTION!
We have the power to make a difference.
By spreading awareness, providing support, and advocate for change, we can help people create aa world where they feel seen, heard, and supported. Here are ways you can help:
Actively participate in the next SPC meeting:
Tuesday, October 1st, 2024, 1:30pm-3:00pm
Web Browser: https://zoom.us/j/410362485
(Meeting ID: 410 362 485)
One-Tap Phone: +16699006833,,410362485#
Phone (dial-in): +1 669 900 6833 US
(San Jose) Meeting ID: 410 362 485
Invite Someone New!
Ask new stakeholder, partner, agency, organization, community member to join the SPC mailing list.
Announcements?
Have an important commission meeting?
Upcoming event you would like to highlight?
Send an email by the second Tuesday of each month for co-chairs review to: walter.ng@star-vista.org
QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK?
READY TO GET INVOLVED?
CONTACT US!
Martha Cervantes, LMFT #129448 (She/Her)
Director of StarVista Crisis Services
martha.cervantes@star-vista.org
(650) 208 – 3057
Sylvia Tang, MPP (She/Her)
Community Health Planner
San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE)
stang@smcgov.org
(650) 208 – 5799
Walter Ng (He/Him)
Program Coordinator of StarVista Crisis Services
walter.ng@star-vista.org
(650) 722 – 7652
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