Category Archives: Uncategorized

1/27 & 1/31- Half Moon Bay Victim Remembrance

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The Archdiocese of San Francisco, Coastside Interfaith Community, City of Half Moon Bay, County of San Mateo, Chamber of Commerce, and other community-based organizations, have organized a few victim remembrance events that we’d like to announce to you now.

• This Friday, January 27, at 5:00 p.m., please join us at Mac Dutra Plaza, 504 Main Street, for a candlelight vigil ceremony to honor, remember, and pay tribute to the victims of the mass shooting incident. The event’s program will include song and prayer. Spanish, Mandarin, and ASL interpretation will be provided.

• On Tuesday, January 31, at 4:00 p.m., Our Lady of the Pillar Church and the Coastside Interfaith Community will host a memorial service at the Boys & Girl Club Event Center at 530 Kelly Avenue. This service will include prayers and healing words from the interfaith leaders in remembrance of the victims and hope for the future. Spanish, Mandarin, and ASL interpretation will be provided.

• Immediately following the memorial service, a candlelight processional walk will occur down Kelly Avenue, past the Mac Dutra Plaza memorial, and down Main Street to the I.D.E.S. Hall.

• At 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 31, at the I.D.E.S. Hall, 735 Main Street, the City, County, and Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to a Community Gathering for dinner and fellowship as we begin to move forward as a community. If you’d like to join us for the gathering, please register here (https://www.eventbrite.com/…/victim-remembrance…) so we can ensure we are able to host everyone appropriately.

The memorial at Mac Dutra Plaza continues to be available for anyone who wishes to grieve separately or on their own. This event has affected all of us differently. Mental Health continues to be a struggle for many, and we want to remind everyone, especially during this time, that there are resources available. The City’s CARES Team is available 7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. by calling 988 or 650-713-5467 and the County of San Mateo Crisis Response Team is also available to provide mental health resources by calling 800-686-0101.

Special thanks to Julio Escobar from the Archdiocese of San Francisco – Restorative Justice Ministry for planning and organizing these events for the victims and families. In addition to the events listed above, the Archdiocese will be holding a site blessing ceremony with Archbishop Cordileone on Friday afternoon.

If you or a loved one are in need of mental health support visit here.

Tonight: Collective Grief and Healing Space Offerings

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HI,

San Mateo county has been deeply impacted by yesterday’s events. Our hearts go out to all impacted in our communities. We want you to know that BHRS is here to provide support, healing, and resources.

I want to share important information for our communities.

  1. Community Healing Space TODAY at 4:30. A space for YOUTH to grieve, mourn, love, process and heal in response to violence occurred in the HMB community
  2. Collective Grief Space for our Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi Community TODAY from 6-7:30pm. Amplify RJ – Restorative Justice on Instagram: “On the heels of the mass shooting in Monterey Park we’re providing community grief space on Tuesday, January 24th, *2023* from 6:00-7:30pm…”

Please see attached flyers for details and please share with your communities and networks.

In community,

BHRS’ Office of Diversity & Equity

County Provides Mental Health Counselors, Other Resources to Support Coastal Residents

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As we collectively mourn the loss of life in Half Moon Bay, the County of San Mateo is providing mental health counselors and other support to the community.

The Crisis Response Team (CRT) from Behavioral Health and Recovery Services has been meeting with families in the reunification center and other locations in Half Moon Bay.

CRT staff are trained in crisis response, suicide prevention, and other mental health interventions. They provide individual and group psychological first aid, grief support counseling, connection to needed ongoing services and crisis intervention counseling free of charge to residents in need.

Call 1-800-686-0101 to connect to CRT and other mental health support provided by County Health’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services.

The County is also working with the City of Half Moon Bay and local agencies to provide temporary housing, meals and other services to those directly impacted by the shootings.

The City of Half Moon Bay advises that financial donations are being accepted by ALAS (Ayudando Latinos A Sonar) and can be made at https://www.alasdreams.com/. 

Please note all questions specifically regarding Monday’s shooting – the investigation, court proceedings and other matters – should be directed to the District Attorney’s Office.

Full article here.

Take Control of Your Finances

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This program is a mainly do-it-yourself opportunity for anyone with an email, phone and internet access, to improve their personal finance knowledge and skills. While anyone can sign up and participate, only income-qualified San Mateo County residents are eligible to earn cash incentives (up to $1,100.00) for work completed within the program.

10th Annual Pride Celebration – June 11

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This year’s San Mateo County Pride celebration will take place on Saturday, June 11th, from 11 am to 5 pm at San Mateo Central Park and will have us dancing to amazing musical groups and the tunes of DJ China G. while enjoying the numerous booths filled with resources, support, and information. Also, get ready for our spectacular MC, Jesús U. BettaWork, voted Best Comic by the Bay Area Reporter’s annual Besties Awards in 2018 and 2020. However, that’s not all, this year’s event will hold a children’s space, a space for elders, food trucks, and speakers who have supported the LGBTQ+ community.

The PRIDE Celebration is proud to promote health and wellness among the LGBTQ+ Community, build a sense of community, provide information about behavioral health services, help individuals in marginalized communities seeking services, and provide a free LGBTQ+ positive, sober environment for San Mateo County. We invite you and your family and friends to this year’s event, where we are sure you will have a day filled with smiles, music, laughter, and connection. 

More info at www.SMCPRIDECelebration.com.

Get Internet

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As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, President Biden and Vice President Harris created the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households $30 per month off their internet bills.

To deliver maximum cost savings to families, the Biden-Harris Administration has secured commitments from 20 leading internet providers to offer ACP-eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30 per month. Eligible families who pair their ACP benefit with one of these plans can receive high-speed internet at no cost. Find out if you qualify.

Take Action for Self-Care #6: Being Gentle with Ourselves 

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This message is repeated in Spanish below. 

Being gentle with oneself by setting boundaries and limits that support our mental health may be the most important self-care of all, especially with the fatigue and exhaustion we are all experiencing from the seemingly never-ending pandemic. As author Brianna Wiest says: “Self-care should not be something we resort to because we are so absolutely exhausted that we need some reprieve from our own relentless internal pressure. True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake, it is making the choice to build a life you don’t need to regularly escape from.” 

Most of us experience any number of emotions from day to day. Experiencing negative emotions, especially when under stress, is part of the human experience; however, if left unprocessed or unacknowledged, they can cause harm physically and emotionally.  

Research has found that breathing practices are effective at reducing stress, balancing our energy and emotions, and helping us process some of the more challenging feelings that can arise. Starting with small actions can be a good way to begin incorporating breathing into our self-care routine.   

For example, try out one of the breathing exercises below or mindful breathing, which has been known to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. 

Belly Breathing: When you breathe, your belly should expand, involving your diaphragm, a large muscle in your abdomen. This type of breathing is known as diaphragmatic, or belly breathing and can lower stress levels, reduce blood pressure, lower our heart rate, and help us relax. Download, share and watch the 30-second Belly Breathing Animation, which can be found here: https://www.suicideispreventable.org/social-media.php 

4-7-8 Breathing Technique 

Otherwise known as “relaxing breath”, 4-7-8 breathing, is a simple breathing exercise that can be done anywhere, anytime to aid in stress reduction, grounding, and even sleep. Inhale for a count of 7, hold for a county of 4, and then exhale for a count of 8!  Download and share the 4-7-8 Breathing Card and Social Media post which can be found here.

For 24/7 emotional support for you or your loved one, reach out to these resources: 

 

Tomar acción para el autocuidado #6: Ser gentil con nosotros mismos 

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Ser amable con uno mismo estableciendo límites que apoyen nuestra salud mental puede ser el cuidado personal más importante de todos, especialmente con la fatiga y el agotamiento que todos estamos experimentando debido a la aparentemente interminable pandemia. Como dice la autora Brianna Wiest: “El cuidado personal no debería ser algo a lo que recurramos porque estamos tan absolutamente agotados que necesitamos un respiro de nuestra propia presión interna implacable. El verdadero cuidado personal no consiste en baños de sal y pastel de chocolate, es tomar la decisión de construir una vida de la que no es necesario escapar con regularidad “. 

Todos los días, la mayoría de nosotros experimentamos una gran cantidad de emociones. Experimentar emociones negativas, especialmente cuando está bajo estrés, es parte de la experiencia humana; sin embargo, si no se procesan o no se reconocen, pueden causar daño físico y emocional. 

Los estudios han descubierto que las prácticas de respiración son efectivas para reducir el estrés, equilibrar nuestra energía y emociones y ayudarnos a procesar algunos de los sentimientos más desafiantes que pueden surgir. Comenzar con pequeñas acciones puede ser una buena forma de comenzar a incorporar la respiración en nuestra rutina de cuidado personal.  

Por ejemplo, pruebe el ejercicio de respiración a continuación o la respiración plena, que reduce la sensación de estrés y ansiedad. 

4-7-8 Técnica de respiración 

También conocido como “respiración relajante”, respiración 4-7-8, es un ejercicio de respiración simple que se puede hacer en cualquier lugar, en cualquier momento para ayudar a reducir el estrés, conectarse a tierra e incluso dormir. Inhala contando hasta 7, mantén pulsado para un conteo de 4 y luego exhala para un conteo de 8. Descargue y comparta la tarjeta de respiración 4-7-8 y la publicación en las redes sociales que se pueden encontrar aquí. 

Para obtener apoyo emocional las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana para usted o su ser querido, comuníquese con estos recursos: 

Take Action for Self-Care #5: The Art of Gratitude 

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This message is repeated in Spanish below. 

Making time for self-care isn’t easy, especially when we’re busy and overwhelmed with many concerns such as work, school and the ongoing pandemic.  Mindfulness can be a first step for anyone who struggles with self-care. While there is a very deep body of work to be explored and practiced for those who are interested (like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) experimenting with mindfulness is available to anyone.  

A good place to start is to consciously shift our awareness to the smallest moments of joy we experience -a good laugh, a friendly hello, or feeling touched by a kind word or gesture. Research has found that small moments of positivity can accumulate over time and form new pathways in our brain. As a result, feelings of positivity and gratitude become easier the more we experience them. 

Another starting point is to think about someone or something we are grateful for. The ways we show and practice gratitude can differ based on our culture, background, upbringing, and personalities. “Connective gratitude” is practiced in various cultures and occurs when we show gratitude in a meaningful and personalized way, thinking about how we can pass kindness to others. Though not the answer in every situation, gratitude can bring us closer together, giving us hope as we focus on something, or someone, that is going well. 

Practicing gratitude is an important skill that can strengthen our relationships, and relationships are an important part of our self-care practice. This Self-Care Assessment asks us to think about our relationships.  Do you schedule regular activity with your partner/spouse or your children? Do you make time to see friends? Do you stay in contact with relatives and faraway friends? Allow others to do things for you? Do you ask for help when you need it? 

With all this in mind, the Directing Change Program asked youth to reflect on “the Art of Gratitude” through art, film and narrative in November 2021.  We hope you will take a moment to draw inspiration from their creativity. 

For 24/7 emotional support for you or your loved one, reach out to these resources: 

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