Rooted in Resilience: 7th Annual San Mateo County Pride Celebration – June 15th
Flashback Friday: 2019 Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation
In honor of kicking off 2019’s May Mental Health Awareness Month, last Tuesday the Board of Supervisors proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
At the proclamation we heard from Lived Experience Graduate speakers, John Butler and Pamela Ward and the director of San Mateo County Health‘s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Scott Gilman.
Gilman stated, “I was reminded of the importance of our work when I was watching the news with my 6 year old grandson. . . and he says Papa, ‘that’s crazy!’ That’s the challenge we have as medical professionals trying to deal with stigma in our community.”
Ward recounts her lived experience by sharing, “One of the primary sources of pain is the stigma against people with mental health challenges. Not only the messaging in the media, but the internalized stigma that had in the past made me doubt myself and my ability to experience wellness”.
Butler shared his Photovoice Comic book developed from clients of South County Mental Health Clinic. PDF link to the comic book will be available soon!
Huge thank you to all who attended and supported the event! Special thanks to Peninsula Library System and San Mateo County Libraries for partnering with us this year to host over 40 events throughout the month!
Continue to follow our Flashback Fridays on our blog for highlights of past events!
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More info can be found at www.smchealth.org/mentalhealthmonth
**Enter in our raffle to win lime green swag! All you have to do is “like” this post, comment below, and share the post on social media!**
#WordsOfWellness #BeTheOneSMC
Words of Wellness Wednesday: Introduction to 2019 Mental Health Awareness Month
2019 Mental Health Awareness Month Planning Committee
Introducing the official theme for San Mateo County’s 2019 Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) : Words of Wellness!
This year, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) is partnering up with local organizations and libraries throughout the month of May to raise awareness around mental health and substance use issues and the importance of getting help. This partnership was formed to bring a national and statewide mental health movement to a local and familiar community space – public libraries. Given this partnership, this year’s MHAM theme is “Words of Wellness” in which we will spread the messages of hope, resiliency and inclusion in our libraries and elsewhere in the community.
With the help of the San Mateo County Libraries and Peninsula Library System as well as local agencies, we were able to host over 40 free and open to the public events through the county in the month of May (nearly double the amount of events from last year!). View our calendar of events here, and for full list of events and details, please visit our webpage at smchealth.org/mham.
Whether you are attending one of these events or are celebrating elsewhere, use #BeTheOneSMC and/or #WordsofWellness on social media to help raise awareness and get a free lime green commemorative pin! To claim your pin, please e-mail a picture of your tagged social media posts to Kristie Lui (kflui@smcgov.org).
Keep an eye out for our Words of Wellness Wednesday blog posts to learn about ways you can practice words of wellness!
Enter in our raffle to win lime green swag! All you have to do is “like” this post, comment below, and share the post on social media!
Mental Health Monday: Event Reminders #1
Mental Health Awareness Month 2019 starts this week!
Here’s a friendly reminder of all the exciting events happening this week to kick off the month!
Wed, 4/24 5:30pm Bases y Fundamentos de Nami- 6 Semanas*
Half Moon Bay Library
620 Correas St, Half Moon Bay
Details: Bases y Fundamentos de NAMI es un programa de 6 sesiones diseñado para padres y otros cuidadores de niños y adolescentes con problemas emocionales y de comportamiento.
Language: Spanish
Contact: Jose Aguirre | jaguirre@smcgov.org
Para registrarse llame al 650-599-9107.
Wed, 5/1 7pm Introduction to Mental Health with NAMI
San Carlos Library
610 Elm St, San Carlos
Details: NAMI San Mateo will present a mental health program discussing mental illness, as well as the services and programs that NAMI offers. Following this discussion, a person living well with their mental health diagnosis will be sharing their story.
Language: English
Contact: Rhea Bradley | bradley@smcl.org
Wed, 5/1 6:30pm Mental Health 101: Trauma
Menlo Park Main Library
800 Alma Street, Menlo Park
Details: What is trauma, what does it lead to, and what are some grounding techniques? Menlo Park Main Library kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with a panel of experts from CORA offering information and answering questions.
Languages: English
Contact: John Weaver | jnweaver@menlopark.org
Thu, 5/2 12:30pm Film Screening: The Dark Horse
San Mateo Public Library – Oak Room
55 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo
Details: Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities (CID) will be hosting a film screening of “The Dark Horse” (2014) at the San Mateo Public Library, followed by a discussion on the film and mental health stigma. Refreshments will be provided for attendees, and there will be a raffle. “The Dark Horse” is the story of world champion Chess player Genesis Poitini who is living with bipolar disorder.
Language: English
Contact: Alexandra Manieri (alexandram@cidsanmateo.org) & Benjamin McMullan (benjaminm@cidsanmateo.org)
Apply for Office of Diversity & Equity Internship by June 17
DEA Take Back Day – Saturday, April 27th
Did you know unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, and can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. The misuse and abuse of over-the-counter medications, illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Removing unwanted or expired medications from the medicine cabinet is an easy concrete step that everyone can take to make a difference in the opioid crisis. Make plans now to dispose of your unwanted medications at select locations tomorrow from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Saturday, May 18th – 2019 Soul Stroll Event!
Established by the Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council (BACHAC) in 2002 to increase awareness about good nutrition and physical activity as keys to better health, Soul Stroll’s attendance has grown from 500 in 2002 to more than 3,000 participants in recent years. In addition to a 1-, 3-, or 5-mile run/walk, Soul Stroll provides on-site health screenings, children’s activities, and a health fair with more than 50 resource partners.
Coyote Point Park – Saturday, May 18th from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
4/23 – 2019 Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation
2018 Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation
It’s that amazing lime green time of year again! The 2019 May Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) is one week from kicking off!
Show your support throughout the month of May by:
- Attending an event (see calendar of events)
- Join us for our annual Board of Supervisors Proclamation at 400 County Center in Redwood City on Tuesday, April 23rd at 9:00am.
- If you cannot attend in person, there will be a livestream available here: https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
- Wearing lime green throughout the month of May
- Share the BeTheOneSMC photo gallery with your network or submit a photo with a pledge of your own”
- Using hashtags #WordsOfWellness & #BetheOneSMC on social media
For more information on 2019 May Mental Health Awareness Month, please visit the webpage smchealth.org/mentalhealthmonth. For a list of our exciting events happening throughout the month of May, view our calendar of events.
Keep following us here throughout the month of May for updates, event highlights, and “words of wellness”!
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4/22 – MHSA Steering Committee
Reminder that Mental Health Service Act’s (MHSA) upcoming Steering Committee meeting is this Monday, 4/22 at 3pm. New members will be joining and having an “Orientation to MHSA” prior to the meeting at 2pm, same location. All are welcome to attend!
What: MHSA Steering Committee Meeting
When: April 22, 2019, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Where: County Health Campus, Room 100 (225 37th Ave., San Mateo)
At this meeting we will:
- Provide input on the MHSA Plan to spend available one-time revenue
- Receive an update on new MHSA Innovation funding cycle
- Hear from current Innovation project, Health Ambassador Program for Youth
Actions: 1) approval of the MHSA Plan to spend one-time revenue and 2) approval of a no-cost one-year extension of current innovation projects, the Health Ambassador Program for Youth and the NMT in an Adult System of Care.