📣 September Suicide Prevention Month is officially upon us! Throughout the month, get involved in suicide prevention in your community by attending one of our many free events being hosted all throughout San Mateo County. Look forward to art shows, suicide prevention trainings, a glass etching art night, panels and more! Learn more about the events at SMCHealth.org/SPM.
Events happening this week: 💜 9/3 at 5:30PM – Creating Safety Through Expressions, Mouton Center in East Palo Alto 💜 9/5 at 5PM – Voices of Recovery Annual Candlelight Vigil 💜 9/8 at 1PM – STS and Alt2Su Suicide Awareness Panel, Heart & Soul Clinic in Burlingame
📅 We are just 3 weeks away from September Suicide Prevention Month (in addition to Recovery Happens Month)!
San Mateo County is 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 (all September)
National Suicide Prevention Week (September 7-13)
World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10)
For 2025, San Mateo County and partners are promoting the statewide theme: “Support, Your Way.”
What if suicide prevention could feel human, honest, and self-assured, all while being inclusive of the different ways people can find support. Rather than centering fear, crisis, or clinical language, this theme is about agency, particularly at vulnerable moments when people feel like they have none. It reflects a cultural truth that people want help on their own terms, and flips the understanding of asking for help not as a loss of control—but as a regaining of it.
It’s not about prescribing what help should look like. It’s about validating the choice to reach out for help, understanding that support can look different for everyone, and reframing the act of asking for support as taking control.
For more info on attending free events, getting involved, or finding support, visit SMCHealth.org/SPM.
*Lastly, to apply for one of our ten $300 mini-grants to fund an event, view application here.*
Thank you for helping prevent suicide and promote wellness in our community!
Taylor Coutts and Sylvia Tang Suicide Prevention Committee Co-Chairs
Walter Ng and Grace Higgs Suicide Prevention Month Planning Committee Co-Chairs
We are two weeks away from 2025 May Mental Health Month!
What’s an easy way to let your team and others know that May is Mental Health Month? Promote it with your virtual background! Download them at smchealth.org/post/social-media-0
💚 Event happening next week:
Tues, 4/22: Board of Supervisors proclaim May as Mental Health Month Join us in proclaiming May as Mental Health Month! Show your support by wearing lime green and/or making a public comment. Time: 9:00am – 11:00am Location: 500 County Center Chambers, 1st Fl, Redwood City, CA, 94063 or via Zoom here.
For more event details and our full list of free and public events and mental health resources, visit SMCHealth.org/MHM.
On Saturday, February 15th, the African American Community Initiative (AACI) celebrated their 7th annual Black History Month celebration at Eastside College Preparatory Academy in East Palo Alto. This event paid homage to the African American/Black ancestors, specifically highlighting African Americans devout contributions to our American history through labor (the national theme was “African Americans & Labor: Paying homage to our ancestors”). The event featured guest presentations from our newest San Mateo County Board Member, Lisa Gauthier, who represents District 4 (East Palo Alto), Behavioral Health, and Recovery Services (BHRS) Director, Dr. Jei Africa, and BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity Director, Dr. Maria Lorente-Foresti. Attendees were provided history about African American/Black representation in predominately white work fields, as seen in the video by Misty Copeland, who shared her lived experiences as a Black Principal Ballet Dancer. In addition, attendees learned about the Port Chicago explosion in Suisan Bay and the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black female unit of the United States Army during World War II. Finally, the event celebrated the work of Maurice Goodman, the President of the San Mateo County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) – the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States!
AACI closed out the event with an introduction to the Domini Hoskins Black History Museum and Learning Center in Redwood City, as well as providing some trivia and raffles to the community; all questions related to African American/Black individuals who contributed to American history and those who contributed to San Mateo County workforce. By celebrating Black History, AACI aims to reduce behavioral health treatment disparities, support an inclusive and welcoming environment for our clients and workforce and reduce the stigma around behavioral health challenges with the intention of creating more equitable behavioral health outcomes for our African American and Black community. The African American Community Initiative would like to thank all their guests and presenters for coming together and rejoicing in African American/Black History through music, community resources, speakers, and guest presenters. The African American Community Initiative hopes to see you all for their next event in June for Juneteenth!
To learn more about the African American Community Initiative, or to become a member, click here!
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.
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
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
988 CALLS ARE NOWGEOLOCATED: As of 09/17/2024, T-Mobile cellular service users (including Mint, Metro, Ultra, U.S. Mobile, and textnow) and Verizon cellular service users (including Xfinity, Visible, RedPocket, Reach, and Twigby) cellular service users in San Mateo County are geo-routed to StarVista Crisis Center based on location instead of phone area code when they call 988.
AT&T cellular service (including Cricket, Consumer Cellular, Straight Talk, H20 Wireless, and Good2go) is still pending activation confirmation.
Prior: Tuesday, 09/03/2024 from 2pm-3pm: In-person Meeting, Group Photo & Distribution of Outreach Materials at San Mateo County Health offices in Belmont.
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:
Overview of the progress made within California to establish county-level Suicide Fatality Review teams.
Suicide Fatality Review Team Toolkit created by Dr. Repp with Epidemiology Consulting.
County level perspectives on establishing Suicide Fatality Review teams (successes, challenges, and lessons learned).
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
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
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:
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:
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!
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
Need help right now? The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is open 24/7, confidential, and free of charge. When you call or text 988, or chat on the website, you’ll be connected with a trained counselor who will listen to what you’re going through without judgment. And they’ll work with you to create a plan to keep you safe. You can also contact 988 if you’re worried about someone in your life. Get in touch on your own, or together. Call or text 988 on your phone, or chat on mobile or desktop at https://988lifeline.org/chat/
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
Last week in Morgan Hill (9/12/2024), I attended the Santa Clara County’s Suicide Prevention Conference and participated in a presentation titled, “Increasing the Accessibility of Suicide Prevention Community Trainings via Language Translation vs. Cultural Adaptation: Lessons Learned.” The presentation was led by Dr. Joyce Chu (co-creator of Be Sensitive Be Brave training for mental health and suicide prevention: https://www.smchealth.org/bsbb) and featured community partners for Vietnamese adaptation (Dr. Kathlyn Clementelli) and Tongan adaptation (Leafa Taumoepeau and Maata Misinale. I’m so grateful for each of them!
The lessons learned were so insightful and left the audience thinking about cultural adaptations for different communities, including food, storytelling and working with trusted institutions (community center, church).
Below are links with more suicide prevention information/resources:
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