Category Archives: County

Carlmont High School Paper Features Suicide Prevention Efforts in San Mateo County

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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

2024 World Suicide Prevention Day: Change the Narrative

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Today, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day. This year’s theme is “Change the Narrative”— because it’s time to talk more openly and honestly about suicide and suicide prevention. That can start with lighting a candle. Put it near your window at 8 PM tonight to visibly show your support for preventing suicide in our communities. It’s also a way to honor loved ones we have lost, and loved ones who have survived. #WorldSuicidePreventionDay Learn more at SMCSuicideprevention.com

Events happening this week:
💜 9/10 at 4PM in Belmont in San Mateo | Communal Candle Decorating Workshop – Join us as we decorate candles to show support for suicide prevention and to remember a lost loved one.
💜 9/13 at 5:30PM in San Mateo | Open Book, Open Hearts Workshop – This workshop will provide insight on the importance of self-care for mental health, an overview of warning signs for suicide prevention, and share community resources.
💜 9/14 at 12PM in Foster City | One at a Time Workshop – The goal of the workshop is to educate about mental health and suicidality by shifting the focus to prevention strategies and outlining steps that can be taken prior to crisis.
💜 9/15 at 1PM in San Carlos | One at a Time Workshop – The goal of the workshop is to educate about mental health and suicidality by shifting the focus to prevention strategies and outlining steps that can be taken prior to crisis.

2024 Suicide Prevention Month: Love Over Loneliness

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📅  We are one month away from September Suicide Prevention Month (in addition to Recovery Happens Month)!  

San Mateo County will be joining statewide and nationwide efforts for the following Suicide Prevention Month (SPM) observances. SPM is one of the best times of the year where we can honor those affected by suicide and inspire action to prevent suicide.   

  • Suicide Prevention Month (September)  
  • National Suicide Prevention Week (September 8-14)   
  • World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10)  

The 2024 SPM statewide theme is “Love Over Loneliness”. Our San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in January declaring loneliness a public health crisis and pledging to promote social connection in our communities. According to the 2023 San Mateo County Health and Quality of Life Survey, 45% of respondents in San Mateo County were experiencing difficulty with loneliness and isolation. 

Now more than ever it is important that we find ways to connect with one another. Know the signs, find the words, and reach out. 
 
This year, San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services’ Office of Diversity & Equity and San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee lead a variety of virtual and in-person events, advocacy days and communication campaign. For the latest updates on free events and resources, you can visit SMCSuicidePrevention.com.  To help spread this message of hope, you can share our flyer.  

Read more

2024 David Lewis Nomination Form – Deadline 8/16

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Nomination form for the 2024 David Lewis Award is now open. Deadline to submit nomination form is August 16th, 2024.

This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to substance abuse recovery through successful programs, community education, stigma reduction or client advocacy. David Lewis was a long-term employee of San Mateo County Health. He was the co-founder and president of the Board of Directors of “Free at Last,” a substance abuse treatment and prevention agency in East Palo Alto that seeks to break the cycle of addiction, rebuild families, foster education and economic self sufficiency, and contribute to the health and safety of the community.

Download nomination form below.

David Lewis Award nomination form_fillable_2024Download

Suicide Prevention Committee Newsletter – August 2024

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The Suicide Prevention Committee (SPC) provides oversight and direction to suicide prevention efforts in San Mateo County. Led by the Office of Diversity and Equity at San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, the committee is comprised of suicide attempt survivors, suicide loss survivors, behavioral health providers, social service providers, local transportation agency staff, and other community members passionate about preventing suicide in our community.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

  • Latest Updates
    • SMC Suicide Prevention Committee Special Session
      • Tuesday, August 20th, 2024 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm
      • Topics
        • San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Response Team presentation of crisis response
        • Suicide Prevention Month planning
      • Agenda
        • Q&A of crisis mobile Response Team presentation from1:15pm -1:45pm
        • Suicide Prevention Month planning from 1:45pm – 2:15pm
      • Registration Link
    • September 2024 Suicide Prevention Month Mini-Grant Application
  • Monthly Meetings
    • Upcoming: 08/06/24 – Suicide Prevention Month Planning – Toolkit Review Suicide Prevention Resource Promotion
    • Prior: 07/02/24 – Updates on suicide prevention resource website/ flyer and start planning for September Suicide Prevention Month

UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS

  • 09/10/24
    • SAVE THE DATE
    • Further information TBD
    • In collaboration with Cloud Bell of the San Mateo County Library to facilitate World Suicide Prevention Day

NEWS

This section includes news that intersects with our local suicide prevention work:

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES

CRISIS RESOURCES

NON-CRISIS RESOURCES

  • BE SENSITIVE, BE BRAVE
    • 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, 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 a world where they feel seen, heard, and supported.

Here are ways you can help:

  • Actively participate in the next SPC meeting:
    • Tuesday, August 6th, 2024, 1:30pm-3:00pm
  • 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?

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

ICYMI: Relive the Magic of AACI and VoRSMC’s 2024 Juneteenth

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Thank you, all who joined us for African American Community Initiative (AACI) and Voices of Recovery San Mateo (VorSMC)’s 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 14th, 2024!

The event included resource fair, spoken word, praise dancing, musical selections, speakers, health and wellness checks, and more! 

About African American Community Initiative
The mission of the African American Community Initiative is to become a known resource for African American Community members facing challenges with finding and utilizing mental health services, while addressing inequalities faced by African Americans in our county.  Our vision is to build a community driven support system for reducing mental health and substance use treatment disparities, and the stigma of mental illness.  Learn more about AACI here.

17th Annual Housing Heroes- Nomination Form and Save the Date

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Greetings,

The 17th Annual Housing Hero Awards will be presented this year on October 16, 2024. Wednesday, October 16, 2024 from 2:00pm to 4:30pm at the Redwood Shores Library – Community Room (399 Marine Pkwy, Redwood City).

Below you will find the 2024 Nomination Form and the Save the Date.  Please share this information and the nomination form throughout your networks.  Please submit your nominations by Monday, September 9, 2024.

Note:  The nomination form can be completed electronically using the attached QR code or by submitting the form by email or text.

Please share this information and the nomination form throughout your networks.  If you would like to have a nomination box for paper submissions at your work site, please let us know and we will try to arrange to provide one. 

The Housing Hero Awards honors community individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in providing housing and/or helping at-risk individuals and families with Co-Occurring issues to acquire and maintain stable housing.

The Honorable Carole Groom Housing Leadership Award will be given to an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, and dedication to developing affordable, safe, and supportive housing for our County’s most at-risk populations.

We invite you to join us for this celebration of Housing Heroes for our County and to nominate any individuals or organizations that you think deserve recognition for efforts, commitment and dedication that makes them Housing Heroes.

17th-Annual-HH-Nomination-Form-2024_FinalDownload

8/13 – Spanish Opioid/ Naloxone Training

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As most of you may be aware, fentanyl has rapidly become a leading cause of death in our community and is affecting our adult and youth clients. In response, the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs, in collaboration with the IMAT team, will be hosting an in-person Opioid/Naloxone training in Spanish on Tuesday, August 13, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Barbara A. Mouton Multicultural Wellness Center, located at 903 Weeks Street in East Palo Alto.

Space is limited, and participants must REGISTER. Please support us by spreading the word to your teams and clients! For details about this training please refer to the flyer.

We are planning an in-person Opioid/Naloxone training in English for September. Date TBD.

Narcan-Training-SP-FLyer-08.13.2024Download

ICYMI: Board of Supervisors Proclaim 2024 May Mental Health Month

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On Tuesday, 5/21/24, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors proclaimed 2024 May as Mental Health Month. The proclamation was accompanied by presentations from Dr. Jei Africa, Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services and Sylvia Tang, co-chair of the Mental Health Month Planning Committee. Lived experience speakers, Gina Olinger-Giani and Joanna (Jo) Padilla, also shared their personal stories for why mental health matters.

Padilla stated, “For me, self efficacy and self-advocacy are a form of my recovery. I am forever grateful and love the resources available, but we must continue to fund these programs and encourage the initiatives to support stipends for those that are willing to participate in their better mental health.”

Before Supervisor Canepa made his motion to declare May as Mental Health Month, he addressed San Mateo County’s loneliness crisis, “The days of saying mental health doesn’t exist, those days are over… In San Mateo County we have 45% of people who feel alone. This equates, according to our surgeon general, to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.”

In January 2024, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors declared loneliness as a public health emergency. Read more in the article here.

What Are Your Lime Green Flags? Join the social media challenge!

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Hello,

You’ve heard of red flags and green flags.. In the WAYLGF challenge, we are asking people what are their lime green flags. Lime green flags refer to practices or actions that help people be mentally healthy. The challenge name is a play on the national color for mental health awareness which is lime green!

Featured in this video: Dr. Jei Africa (he/him), Director of San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services

Follow SMCHealth’s Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our challenge!

Events happening this week:
💚 5/21: Parent Collaboration- Mental Health in our Community, Pescadero
💚 5/21: Breathwork, Redwood City Public Library
💚 5/22: Essence of Mana Village Walk, Elks Lodge in SSF
💚 5/23: Soul Soup w/ Amber Hines, Brisbane Library

For our full list of free and public events and mental health resources, visit SMCHealth.org/MHM.

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