Join us for a rejuvenating morning of community wellness as we connect with nature and each other at the Phoenix Garden. Begin your day with a peaceful walking meditation through our lavender labyrinth, followed by a gentle yoga session to awaken your body and mind. Get your hands in the soil with guided gardening activities, including planting your own take-home garden treasure and contributing to the beauty of our shared space through weeding and mulching. As we conclude our time together, gather in a spirited drumming circle to celebrate our collective energy and the therapeutic benefits of gardening for wellbeing
Date: Sat, 5/17 Time: 9AM-1PM Location: 222 Paul Scannell Drive, San Mateo (Across from Youth Services Center) For more info, email Regina Moreno at RMoreno@smcgov.org.
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.
Did you know untreated mental health and substance use conditions have been tied to lower life expectancy of up to 25 years? Thankfully these conditions are treatable, and people who have mental health and substance use conditions can recover and lead full and meaningful lives.
This year, San Mateo County and California’s theme for May Mental Health Month theme is Mental Health as a Continuum. This theme challenges the binary idea of “healthy” versus “unhealthy” mental health, normalizing the wide range of mental health needs and options for support. Let’s come together to embrace and accept the full spectrum of their well-being.
About Mental Health Month:
Each year, San Mateo County joins our state and country in celebrating Mental Health Month (MHM) in May. MHM is one of the best times of the year to increase awareness and inspire action to reduce stigma against those with mental health and substance use conditions. Each year we partner with local agencies and community members to promote events free and open to the public throughout the county.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (In-Person)
ASIST is a two-day in person interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may be at risk for suicide and work with them to create a plan to support their immediate safety. Skills learned in one environment are transferable to others, creating a life-saving impact across the community.
This course is offered by San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity:
Dedicated to empowering youth and families in underserved communities through evidence-based mental health training, Kingdom Love LLC focus is on strengthening family and community connections by providing accessible, skill-based education that fosters a shared understanding for prevention and early intervention.
To learn more and register for upcoming trainings, visit:
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, January 7th, 2025, 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
El Pasado 11 de Mayo, El BHRS- Programa Embajador de Salud estuvo presente en el evento Conexiones que Sanan, durante el Mes de la Concientización de Salud Mental. Nuestros compañeros Embajadors Cynthia Castro, Lulu Briseño y John Butler, compartieron sus historias de recuperación ante los asistentes. John, Lulu y Cynthia nos hicieron sentir muy orgullosos, cuando escuchamos que para ellos el bienestar emocional y mental es posible cuando se busca y encuentra apoyo de individuos y organizaciones como BHRS y El Programa Embajador de Salud y otras organizaciones del Condado San Mateo, donde se aprenden herramientas para enfrentar los retos del comportamiento y las adicciones.
Lulu y John compartieron como a través de la poesía y la novela gráfica, respectivamente, han encontrado el bienestar y han apoyado a otras personas que están sufriendo. Cynthia por su parte, enfrento sus miedos y decidió a parase en el escenario y mandar un mensaje de esperanza a las mamás solteras que cuidan de niños y jóvenes con desafíos del comportamiento, además de los de ella propios. Otros BHRS- Embajador@s de Salud como Lupita Anguiano e Yrene Orué participaron en la mesa de registro. Mientras que Alma Rodriguez, Esther Gonzalez y Jose Nuñez estuvieron presentes en el evento para apoyar. El director de BHRS- Jei Africa saludó personalmente a los Embajadores y reconoció el valor de su experiencia de vida y aportaciones en la construcción de una sociedad libre de Estigma. A la foto de grupo con Dr. Africa se agregaron los Embajadores Michael Lim y Gina Olinger-Giani.
Last May 11, The BHRS-Health Ambassador Program was at the Healing Connections event during Mental Health Awareness Month. Our fellow Ambassadors Cynthia Castro, Lulu Briseno, and John Butler shared their stories of recovery with attendees. John, Lulu, and Cynthia made us feel very proud, hearing that for them, emotional and mental well-being is possible when one seeks and finds support from individuals and organizations like BHRS and the Health Ambassador Program (HAP), where one learns tools to face behavioral challenges and addictions.
Lulu and John shared how, through poetry and graphic novels, respectively, they have found wellness and supported others who are suffering. For her part, Cynthia faced her fears and decided to stand on stage and send a message of hope to single mothers who care for children and young people with behavioral challenges in addition to her own. Other BHRS-Health Ambassadors like Lupita Anguiano and Yrene Orue participated at the registration table. Alma Rodriguez, Esther Gonzalez, and Jose Nunez were present at the event to support. The Director of BHRS, Jei Africa, personally greeted the Ambassadors and recognized the value of their live experience and collaboration in building a society free of stigma. Added to the group photo were Ambassadors Michael Lim and Gina Olinger-Giani and HAP Program Coordinator Charo Martinez.
This semester, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services’ Office of Diversity and Equity partnered with One East Palo Alto to provide an in-person Parent Project class facilitated in English with a Samoan/Tongan/Pacific Islander lens. One week ahead of Parent Project graduation, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services’ Office of Diversity and Equity provided a presentation to the class highlighting how to access Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, what resources and trainings we offer at the Office of Diversity and Equity, as well as an introduction to our Health Equity Initiatives and the Health Ambassador Program.
Our Health Education Associate and May Mental Health Month Co-Chair, Maria Martinez (she/her), co-facilitated the presentation alongside the Parent Project Program Coordinator, Nicoletta Kelleher (she/her). The Parent Project® curriculum urges the importance of parents and caregivers caring for themselves, as it is vital to support yourself so you can care for your loved ones. In an effort to brainstorm ways to support one’s mental health, Maria facilitated a May Mental Health Month self-care activity from Take Action’s “Reimagine Mental Health” Mini-Journal. As a class, we shared our “pick-me-ups” or activities we do to for self-care when we are feeling stressed. As a support group, parents and caregivers shared their favorite self-care activities that help them when they are feeling overwhelmed our stressed. Some examples included doing yoga, playing the ukulele, going for a drive, etc. Maria and Nicoletta also encouraged parents to utilize this mini journal for parents and caregivers complete these exercises with their children and loved ones as a bonding activity to do together. Maria also provided participants with the “Reimagine Mental Health” goal setting work sheets packet, to ensure participants are able to plan and monitor their mental health and self-care goals.
Thank you, Maria Martinez, for all of your efforts in spreading May Mental Health Awareness amongst our Parent Project participants! To learn more about San Mateo County’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Office of Diversity and Equity’s May Mental Health Month, visit SMCHealth.org/MHM. To access Take Action for Mental Health’s resources, please visit takeaction4mh.com/.
Tomorrow, Wed, 5/29, in honor of Mental Health Month, Face Sculp, located in San Mateo, is offering a free facial and scalp massage. Experience the rejuvenating power of a free facial and scalp massage. See more info below. Learn more at https://facesculp.beauty
Date: Wednesday, 5/29 Time: 11AM-3PM Location: 37 E 4th Ave, San Mateo
We are two days away from 2024 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! See attached to download yours today.
Events happening this week:
💚5/1: Be Sensitive Be Brave Mental Health 101 in Tagalog via Zoom 💚5/1: Hawaiian Music w/ Faith Ako, Menlo Park Library 💚5/3: Lift Your Voices Open Mic, San Mateo Library 💚5/4: Hearts Minds Hands, San Bruno
For more event details and our full list of free and public events and mental health resources, visit SMCHealth.org/MHM.
We are excited to share with our partners and communities that the theme for 2024 May Mental Health Month is Heal Through Connection #SMCAgainstLoneliness.
Each year, San Mateo County joins our state and country in celebrating Mental Health Month (MHM) in May. MHM is one of the best times of the year to increase awareness and inspire action to reduce stigma against those with mental health and substance use conditions.
Our 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 residents in San Mateo County residents were experiencing difficulty with loneliness and isolation.
Now more than ever it is vital that we find ways to connect with one another. This May, we encourage folks to connect with others at one of our free public events, connect to resources, and connect with your community by getting involved.
All except one of our meetings is scheduled to meet virtually. Please see above for details. You can find agenda, minutes and recordings at this website. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, please let us know. We plan to share the meeting recordings and minutes in case anyone wants to catch up or review the meetings. Contact us for questions, comments and suggestions.
Please help us share this message or attached flyer on social media to help us spread the word.
Looking forward to collaborating with you! Sylvia & Kristie Co-Chairs, May Mental Health Month Planning Committee Meeting
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