Category Archives: Mental Health Awareness Month

May Mental Health Awareness Month Kick Off

Posted on by

May Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) Kick Off Event was a huge success with over 100 people in attendance. The Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE), along with other organizations serving San Mateo County,  led the planning of this event and many have organized a variety of events throughout the month of May.  The “Be the One” slogan is this year’s MHAM theme and the primary goal is to raise awareness and reduce stigma against individuals with mental health or substance use conditions and learn how to be the one to help.

MHAM_KickOff_Image#1

This year’s Kick Off event consisted of resource tables, a “Be the One” photo booth, art display, community artwork and a digital storytelling panel.  Individuals with lived experience with mental health and/or substance abuse conditions shared their stories through a short video they created that included any combination of video, sound, music, animation, photographs, and other images of their choosing.  Digital stories are an effective means of shedding light on important social issues including stigma and empowering individuals, as they share their personal journey.

Following is a list with links to view the digital stories that were screened in MHAM_KickOff_Image#2this year’s kick off event:

MHAM_KickOff_Image#3

Overall, the the kick off event was a humbling and inspiring experience as participants had the opportunity to listen to speakers who shared their personal stories with behavioral health conditions and also offer their voice through community artwork and their pledges to reduce stigma at the  Be the One photobooth.

ODE thanks all the organizations and planning committee members for the work they put into organizing a very successful Kick Off event, and the events throughout the month of May, as well as all the community members and providers who came out in support!

Written by: Martha Gonzalez

 

South San Francisco High School Peer Leaders Trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid

Posted on by

MHFA

In collaboration with South San Francisco High School Counselor, Ms. Jeanne George, twenty-two (22) current and future peer leaders are now trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid. The Peer Leader Program is a year-long class, where students are hand selected to work as tutors by providing academic support and serve as mentors and role models to other students at the high school.

1 in 5 youth will experience a mental health challenge in their lifetime. Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is an 8-hour public education training program designed for any adult or student peer working with or assisting young people, ages 12-24. In 2013, San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE), partnered with the County Office of Education to begin offering this training to all schools throughout the county. Classroom teachers, school site administrators, school office personnel, coaches, bus drivers, afterschool providers, parents, teacher’s aides, school health aides, yard duty staff, crossing guards, peers and other school personnel are strongly encouraged to become Youth Mental Health First Aiders.

For more information about YMHFA, visit http://smchealth.org/bhrs/ode/CommunityEd#YMHFA or contact Natalie Andrade at nandrade@smcgov.org or 650-372-8548.

 

Honoring Our Journey Through The Power of Digital Storytelling

Posted on by

Witness the stories of courageous individuals and celebrate their recovery journey at Seeing Through Stigma’s Honoring Our Journey Through The Power of Digital Storytelling on May 14 from Noon – 3:00PM. This event is part of Mental Health Awareness Month and will be held at Heart and Soul, Inc (205 Industrial Road, Ste. 205 in San Carlos). For more information, contact Cardum Harmon at cardumh@heartandsoulinc.org.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Join us at one of the Mental Health Awareness events throughout San Mateo County as we stand up and work together to help everyone live a healthy life. Visit http://smchealth.org/bhrs/mentalhealthmonth to view a list of events and their locations.

Honoring the Individual Journey

Posted on by

Join the Peer Recovery Collaborative as they view digital stories from individuals with lived mental health and substance abuse experiences and discuss what it means “to see beyond diagnosis” and the importance of acknowledging the whole person. Plan to attend this exciting event on Thursday, May 12 from 1:00 – 3:00PM at the San Mateo Public Library (55 W 3rd Avenue in San Mateo).

For more information about this event, visit http://bit.ly/23FvUzI.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is raising awareness about the important role mental health plays in our lives and encouraging members of the community to learn more about their own mental health and to take action if they are experiencing symptoms of a mental illness. Find out about the Mental Health Awareness Month events happening this month at http://smchealth.org/bhrs/mentalhealthmonth.

May 10 is Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day

Posted on by

Slide1.PNG

With May being recognized as National Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, the State of California, the City & County of San Francisco, and the City of Austin have established May 10 as Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day. This recognition highlights the importance of raising awareness about mental health and promoting mental wellness in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Executive Director of the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) emphasized the key relationship between both recognitions being in May and stated, “Mental Health is also finding the joy in embracing our cultural heritage, of being proud of who we are, and celebrating our differences and the things that make us unique.  It is recognizing that we all have something to offer regardless of our cultural heritage, languages spoken, our place of birth, our sexual orientation, social economic status or religious belief.”

You can get involved in promoting mental wellness in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in San Mateo County by joining one or more of the below Health Equity Initiatives from the Office of Diversity and Equity of the San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services:

Chinese Health Initiative
Last Thursday of the Month, 3:00–4:30pm
2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, Room 201 in San Mateo
Contacts: Steve Sust (susts@stanford.edu) and Sylvia Leung (sleung@smcgov.org)

Filipino Mental Health Initiative
3rd Thursday of the Month, 3:30-5:00pm
Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center
2121 Junipero Serra Blvd in Daly City
Contacts: Eugene Canotal (ecanotal@smcgov.org) and Jennifer Jimenez Wong (jensjimenez@gmail.com)

Pacific Islander Initiative
1st Tuesday of the Month, 6:00-7:30pm
Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center
1660 S Amphlett Blvd Suite 219 in San Mateo
Contacts: Juliet Vimahi (jvimahi@pcrcweb.org) and Seini Mateialona (smateialona@pcrcweb.org)

2016 Tony Hoffman Award Recipients

Posted on by
2016TonyHoffman.png

2016 Tony Hoffman Award Recipients: Ramona Gabriel, Dr. Lovella Caluya-Diaz and Alan Cochran

May 4: Tony Hoffman Award Presentation

Posted on by

The San Mateo County Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission would like to invite you to join them on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 from 3:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. for the presentation of the Tony Hoffman Community Mental Health Service Award. This award is given to individuals, professionals, businesses, and the media who have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of people with mental illness and the San Mateo County community.

Award presentations will take place at the San Mateo County Health System, Room 100,  225 37th Avenue, San Mateo. Please contact Chantae Rochester at crochester@smcgov.org if you have any questions.

Be sure to join later on this same evening from 6-8pm for the Mental Health Awareness Month kick off event:  Be the One – Stand Up For Mental Wellness, taking place in the same room.

May 3: Mejorando Mi Salud (Improving My Health)

Posted on by

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, MidPen, the Latino Collaborative are excited to present “Mejorando Mi Salud (Improving My Health).” This 2 hour workshop, presented by Brenda Carrasco, will teach attendees: how to obtain mental health services, how they can be helped to improve their lives, and about new laws in San Mateo County.

Mejorando Mi Salud will take place on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 1990 S. Delware St., San Mateo from 5:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. Loteria (a game similar to Bingo) as well as an activity table for children will be provided. Snacks and prizes are included as well.

Please contact Arlette Molina, MA, LMFT and Latino Collaborative Co-Chair at (650) 573-3571 if you have any questions.

May 4: Be the One – Join Us and Stand Up for Mental Wellness

Posted on by

MHMFlyerDownload the Flyer.  For a list of all Mental Health Awareness Month activities, visit www.smchealth.org/mentalhealthmonth.

April 30th: Screening of HealingVoices

Posted on by

HealingVoices_043016.jpg

« Older Entries Recent Entries »