Category Archives: Announcement

Mental Health Monday: Events Reminder #3

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Event Reminders!

Mental Health Awareness Month 2019 is now on its 3rd week!

Here’s a friendly reminder of all the exciting events happening this week!

Mon, 5/13 7pm Singer-Songwriter Gaby Castro: Songs of Hope and Healing
Menlo Park Main Library
800 Alma Street, Menlo Park
Details: Castro combines introspective song writing with a contemporary style. An advocate for mental health awareness, many of Gaby’s songs touch on her personal struggles and the trials of those around her. 
Languages: English
Contact: John Weaver | jnweaver@menlopark.org

Fri, 5/17 6:30pm Good Reasons for Bad Feelings: Randolph M. Nesse, M.D.
Menlo Park City Council Chambers
701 Laurel St, Menlo Park
Languages: English
Contact: John Weaver | jnweaver@menlopark.org

Sat, 5/18 1pm Introduction to Mental Health with NAMI
Portola Valley Library 
765 Portola Rd, Portola Valley
Details: Nami  San Mateo will present a mental health program discussing mental illness, as well as the services and programs that NAMI offers. Following this discussion, a person living well with their mental health diagnosis will be sharing their story.
Languages: English
Contact: Sherry Markrow; Paula Teixeira| teixeira@smcl.org

Sat, 5/18 1pm Str8jacket Hip Hop Dance Performance
Menlo Park Belle Haven Branch Library
413 Ivy Drive, Menlo Park
Details: Enjoy a performance by a dance team that values passion, and promotes mental health and acceptance. As a no-audition competitive dance team, Str8jacket promotes a real sense of family and community. Performance will be followed by a fun dance tutorial! 
Languages: English
Contact: John Weaver | jnweaver@menlopark.org

Sun, 5/19 2:15pm Walgreens presents Exercise & Physical Activity
South San Francisco Main Library
840 W. Orange Ave., South San Francisco
Details: Learn about the benefits of physical exercise for your mood and well being.
Languages: English
Contact: Stacy Lein | lein@plsinfo.org

For a complete list of events and more information about Mental Health Awareness month, visit www.smchealth.org/mentalhealthmonth.  To find mental health and substance use services and resources in San Mateo County, visit www.smchealth.org/bhrsservices. 

**Enter in our raffle to win lime green swag! All you have to do is “like” this post, comment below, and share the post on social media!**

#WordsOfWellness #BeTheOneSMC

DEA Take Back Day – Saturday, April 27th

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Did you know unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, and can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. The misuse and abuse of over-the-counter medications, illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Removing unwanted or expired medications from the medicine cabinet is an easy concrete step that everyone can take to make a difference in the opioid crisis. Make plans now to dispose of your unwanted medications at select locations tomorrow from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Find a location near you.

4/22 – MHSA Steering Committee

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Reminder that Mental Health Service Act’s (MHSA) upcoming Steering Committee meeting is this Monday, 4/22 at 3pm.  New members will be joining and having an “Orientation to MHSA” prior to the meeting at 2pm, same location.  All are welcome to attend!

What: MHSA Steering Committee Meeting
When: April 22, 2019, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Where: County Health Campus, Room 100 (225 37th Ave., San Mateo)

At this meeting we will: 

  • Provide input on the MHSA Plan to spend available one-time revenue
  • Receive an update on new MHSA Innovation funding cycle
  • Hear from current Innovation project, Health Ambassador Program for Youth

Actions: 1) approval of the MHSA Plan to spend one-time revenue and 2) approval of a no-cost one-year extension of current innovation projects, the Health Ambassador Program for Youth and the NMT in an Adult System of Care. 

Read more

BHRS Welcomes New Director

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Scott Gilman_Headshot

BHRS is delighted to welcome Scott Gilman as the new BHRS Director. Over the past five years, Scott served as the Chief Executive Officer of Network180, the Community Mental Health Center for Kent County, Michigan. Like San Mateo County BHRS, Network 180 provides direct mental health and substance use services and maintains a large private provider network. Gilman also served as executive director of Shiawassee Community Mental Health from 2006 to 2013.

To learn more about Scott, see the full article in Wellness Matters, the BHRS eJournal.

San Mateo County Residents Can Now Text 911 in an Emergency

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911

San Mateo County has enabled 911 texting as an option for people in an emergency. Every law enforcement and fire agency dispatch center is now equipped to receive and respond to mobile phone 911 text messages. While this Text-to-911 program brings greater accessibility to people in emergency situations, Police and fire officials emphasize calling 911 is still the preferred way to get help during an emergency. But if calling is not an option, then send a text to 911.

San Mateo police offered the following tips for texting 911.

  • Always provide the exact location of the emergency
  • Text messages should be brief and easy to understand
  • Do not use abbreviations, emojis or slang
  • Remember that the ability to send/receive images and videos is limited and often dependent on the cellular provider
  • Texts can only be received in English at this time  –  this service will be available in additional languages in the near future in San Mateo County

It’s also important to note that phones or devices must be on a text or data plan, be text capable, and have their location services enabled to send a text message to 911.

Read the full Mercury News article here.

11/16 – Technology Suite Advisory Committee

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Technology Suite Advisory Committee

Recently, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) joined a County Behavioral Health Technology Collaborative, a statewide project aimed at utilizing technology- based and online services and supports to engage and increase access for individuals experiencing symptoms of mental illness who may struggle accessing traditional resources. 

We are seeking a Technology Suite Advisory Committee (TSAC), composed of mental health providers, mental health clients/consumers, family members and community members to help design and oversee the Technology Suite implementation and evaluation. The purpose of the committee is to have a forum for members to provide recommendations on the features offered through the Technology Suite and input on the implementation. The TSAC will review the Technology Suite activities and make suggestions for improvement. The Office of Diversity and Equity will be overseeing the implementation process. 

The informational meeting is to answer any questions, share more about the statewide project and the role of the committee.  You can attend the informational meeting to learn more without any commitment to further participation.

Written by Brittany Ganguly, Community Health Planner

Office of Diversity and Equity 

11/13 -Transgender Day of Remembrance 2018

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Flyer - TGDR - 2018-1.jpg

Please join us  for our Transgender Day of Remembrance Gathering on November 13th, 2018 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at San Mateo Public Library. Our program will begin with a candlelight procession and solidarity chants through downtown San Mateo at 5:00pm. Afterwards, we will return to the library to hear from community speakers (additional youth speakers not included on flyer), share resources and learn about actions we can all take to stand in solidarity against anti-transgender violence. As a few of our nation’s leaders consider redefining the meaning of gender, erasing the experiences of transgender folks, we must unite to raise awareness of anti-transgender violence and the lethal implications of defining gender strictly within a binary. Our collective resistance is one more step towards wellness and healing for us all.

This event is brought to the community by the PRIDE Initiative, the LGBTQ Commission , The San Mateo County Pride Center, and BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity.

Written by Annette Pakhchian, LGBTQ+ Community Outreach 

Chinese Health Initiative’s New Meeting Schedule

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Next Chinese Health Initiative (CHI) meeting is on Friday, November 2nd from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Room 201 at 2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo.

Starting November, CHI meets the 1st Fridays of the month 1:30 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. in Room 201 at 2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo. Our December meeting is scheduled for Friday, December 7th, same time and location. 

For the most up-to-date information, please contact the CHI Co-Chairs Shiyu Zhang and Winnie Wu at CHI@smcgov.org.

Happy First International Pronouns Day!

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Today is International Pronouns Day! Sharing your pronouns and asking others for theirs can help everyone feel comfortable and acknowledged. SMC Health recommends sharing your pronouns in your email signature! See the example below to see how you can share yours, and check out our blog post, “Sharing Our Gender Pronouns” for more discussion on why pronouns are an essential part of respectful communication.

Signature- AJP

Written by Annette Pakhchian, LGBTQ+ Community Outreach 

www.smhealth.org/bhrs/ODE

 

October 2 – National Day of Prayer

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Tuesday, October 2nd will be the 3rd Annual National Day of Prayer for Behavioral Health and Understanding. Faith and Secular leaders will join hundreds around the country in an effort to replace the blame, fear and prejudice surrounding behavioral health issues with truth, inclusion and love. Community members, consumers, family members, behavioral health providers and the faith community are all welcome. The event will be held at the courtyard of 400 County Center, Redwood City.

For more information see the event flier or contact William Kruse at (510)-506-3815 or  Melinda Ricossa at (650)-372-8573.

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