Mental Health Month
Hosted by The Office of
Diversity and Equity
May 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 partnered with local agencies and community members to promote events free and open to the public throughout the county. All events this year will be virtual.
Interested to join the 2021 Mental Health Month Planning Committee? You may find our meeting schedule here.
#HopeForChange
This year’s theme, aligned with the statewide theme, is #HopeForChange. The past year has undoubtedly brought unanticipated changes for us as individuals, families, and communities–leaving us to face these challenges and transform. Change is not always planned. Growth can be powerful and empowering. It can also be uncomfortable. #HopeForChange reminds us to spread and rely on the hope that carried us through a year of change.
Please visit this site again for updates on Mental Health Month events in the community.
2021 MHM Virtual Events
Events scheduled for this month are listed below. For the most up-to-date information, please continue visiting this site.
Whether you are attending one of these events or are celebrating elsewhere, use #BeTheOneSMC and #HopeForChange 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).
Note: All events are in Pacific Standard Time.
Sat, 5/1- 10am-11am | 2021 Mental Health Month
Livestream Kick-Off
Location: Facebook.com/SMCHealth or
Facebook.com/CountyofSanMateo
Details: Join San Mateo County on May 1st to kick off 2021
Mental Health Month. Learn how to make limegreen cookies, join us
for a mindful meditation, and hear about how you can participate
in Mental Health Month throughout the month of May.
Language: English with Spanish Interpretation
Contact: Kristie Lui | KFLui@smcgov.org
Sat, 5/1- 11am-12pm | Music for Mental Health: Mardi
Morillo
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: TBA
Language: English
Contact: John Weaver | jnweaver@menlopark.org
Mon, 5/3- 6:30pm-7:45pm | Mental Health Month Open
Mic
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: For the 3rd year, San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen
Casinetto will emcee the event.
Language: English
Contact: John Weaver | jnweaver@menlopark.org
Tues, 5/4- 12pm-1pm | Eddy Zheng on Hate and Violence
Affecting Asian Pacific Islanders
Location: Virtual (Zoom
Registration)
Details: Hate incidents against Asian American Pacific Islander
communities have risen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfortunately, this is not new: there is a long history of
violence affecting AAPI communities in the United States. Eddy
Zheng, President of the New Breath Foundation and co-founder of
the first-ever ethnic studies program in San Quentin State
Prison, will speak about how the U.S. immigration and criminal
justice systems harm AAPI communities and how recent violence
fits into the larger context of AAPI history. Join us in kicking
off Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month by elevating our
history and celebrating our resilience.
Language: English
Contact: Tammy Vuong | (650) 372-6235 | qvuong@smcgov.org
Tues, 5/4- 6pm-8pm | Angst Film
Screening
Location: Virtual (Eventbrite
Registration Link)
Details: Documentary film in which mental health experts discuss
the causes of anxiety, its sociological effects and what can be
done about it.
Language: English & Spanish
Contact: Charlene Margot | cmargot@parentventure.org and Sheléne
Peterson | SPeterson@smcoe.org.
Wed, 5/5- 1pm-2pm | Supporting Perinatal Mental
Health
Location: Virtual (Registration info in
flyer)
Details: In honor of World Maternal Mental Health Day, the
Prenatal to Three Initiative will be addressing perinatal mental
health needs to support first time mothers. Mothers will also
learn infant massage techniques for their babies.
Language: English
Contact: Hedwig De Ocampo | HDeOcampo@smcgov.org
Wed, 5/5- 2pm -3pm | Supporting Perinatal Mental
Health
Location: Virtual (Registration info in
flyer)
Details: In honor of World Maternal Mental Health Day, the
Prenatal to Three Initiative will be addressing perinatal mental
health needs to support first time mothers. Mothers will also
learn infant massage techniques for their babies.
Language: Spanish
Contact: Hedwig De Ocampo | HDeOcampo@smcgov.org
Thurs, 5/6- 11:30am-12:30pm | Gentle Chair
Yoga
Location: Virtual (Registration
Form)
Details: Chair yoga uses the chair as a prop for support
(standing or seated). These classes will begin with centering,
followed by yoga warm-ups, yoga postures, concentration &
breathing exercises, guided relaxation, and meditation. Chair
yoga is accessible to any level of health or mobility. As you
practice, you’ll receive the benefits of increased flexibility,
physical and mental strength, energy, clarity, overall health and
peace.
Language: English
Contact: Darren Heiber | heiber@smcl.org
Thurs, 5/6- Time TBA | NAMI In Your Voices with
Menlo Park Library
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: TBA
Language: English
Contact: TBA
Thurs, 5/6- 7pm to 8pm | SafeSpace: screening
QuaranTEEN Diaries
Location:
Zoom Link
Details: SafeSpace es una organización dirigida por jóvenes y
centrada en la salud mental que permite a los jóvenes participar
abiertamente en sus escuelas y comunidades. Crean e implementan
iniciativas para cambiar la conversación sobre la salud mental
educando y animando a sus compañeros a hablar, apoyar a otros y
buscar ayuda cuando sea necesario. Produjeron un cortometraje
llamado QuaranTEEN Diaries. Su mensaje y experiencia no están
escritos; todo lo que comparten es su propia verdad en sus
propias palabras. QuaranTEEN Diaries captura COVID-19 y la
experiencia de la pandemia directamente desde la perspectiva de
la juventud. Comparten sus desafíos, pero igualmente destacan su
fuerza interior, la importancia de la comunidad y el mensaje de
“separados, pero nunca solos.” perspective w/ Q&A teen
panel
Language: Spanish
Contact: Annie Kim | Annie@safespace.org
Thurs, 5/6- 8pm-9pm | SafeSpace: screening
QuaranTEEN Diaries
Location:
Zoom Link
Details: SafeSpace is a youth-led, mental health-focused
organization that empowers young people to engage openly
with their local schools and communities. SafeSpace
presents the QuaranTEEN Diaries. Their message and
experience is not scripted; everything they share is their
own truth in their own words. The QuaranTEEN Diaries
captures COVID-19 and the pandemic experience directly from the
lens of youth. They share their challenges, but equally highlight
their inner strength, importance of community and the message
of “apart, but never alone.”
Language: English
Contact: Annie Kim | Annie@safespace.org
Friday, 5/7- 6pm-7:30pm | 1st Annual The Amazing
Souls of Black Folks: African Americans Expressions of
Wellness and Resiliency through Poetry
Location: Zoom (Registration
Link)
Details: Astute historic and personal poetry readings that
express the desire for the wellness and the resilience of African
Americans. The audience will have an opportunity for insightful
reflections on the poetry. A creative community open-mike will be
offered to share black & ally poetry by participants. Gift
certificates will be given to 3 poets from the open mike
segment.
Language: English
Contact: Pamela Ward Pious | wpam3238@gmail.com, (650)
669-5610 (text message only)
Friday, 5/7- 4pm-5pm | Music and Trivia for Older
Adults
Location: Via Zoom (Registration
Form)
Details: Music and Trivia offers plenty of variety, with a
different music theme every week. The trivia themes include
Broadway, television, artist retrospectives, and even a “Musical
Road Trip” with state and city trivia. Our host, Ben Pernick,
also mixes in fun word games on the topics including a modified
version of the popular party game “Scattergories”. Ben is a
board-certified music therapist with 7 years’ experience creating
engaging experiences for seniors.
Language: English
Contact: Chris Lu | luc@smcl.org
Tues, 5/11- Time TBA | Reinvent Your
Wardrobe
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: Learn how to deconstruct existing clothing pieces
to create something totally new. A small step for mental wellnes
while also performing a climate change action to reduce fabric
waste. A win for you, a win for the earth!
Language: English
Contact: TBA
Wed, 5/12- 1pm-2:30pm | Photovoice Panel
Presentation by LEEW & Co
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: The Photovoice ‘Hope for Change’ project theme will
encourage participants to frame their Photovoice stories around
Hope, Resilience, Community Inclusion and mental health wellness.
Their stories will share recovery and wellness journeys and
processes in ways that will be clear, concise and connecting
journals of human experience that will touch and engage members
of the public.
Language: English
Contact: Jairo Wilches | JWilches@smcgov.org or Lee Harrison |
LEHarrison@smcgov.org
Thurs, 5/13- 11:30am-12:30pm | Vinyasa
Yoga
Location: Virtual (Registration
Form)
Details: The vinyasa flow workshops involve more physically
demanding work and options will be offered to make them
accessible for all. Classes typically begin with grounding
breathing techniques to tap into your parasympathetic (rest &
digest) response. From there, you’ll enjoy a gentle warm up
before getting into a moving meditation as you flow from one pose
to another with your breath. Sessions will focus on relieving
stress and rejuvenating your body.
Language: English
Contact: Darren Heiber | heiber@smcl.org
Thurs, 5/13- 6:30pm-7:45pm | Gaby Castro: Live and
Aloud
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: TBA
Language: TBA
Contact: Roz Kutler | rkutler@redwoodcity.org
Thurs, 5/13- 7pm-8pm | SafeSpace: screening Many
Generations, One Conversation
Location:
Zoom Link
Details: Has batallado para conversar con tu familia sobre
la salud mental? Te preguntas si esto SOLO te esta sucediendo a
ti? Tu NO estas solo(a). En SafeSpace te invitamos a unirte a
nosotros en una discusión sobre la salud mental y los
adolescentes, algunas percepciones erróneas al respecto, y ver un
video que resaltara la reducción de la brecha generacional y
cultura mientras aborda los desafíos en torno al estigma.
SafeSpace es una organización dirigida por jóvenes y centrada en
la salud mental que permite a los jóvenes participar abiertamente
en sus escuelas y comunidades. Crean e implementan iniciativas
para cambiar la conversación sobre la salud mental educando y
animando a sus compañeros a hablar, apoyar a otros y buscar ayuda
cuando sea necesario.
Language: Spanish
Contact: Annie Kim | Annie@safespace.org
Thurs, 5/13- 8pm-9pm | SafeSpace: screening
Many Generations, One Conversation
Location:
Zoom Link
Details: Have you struggled with having
conversations with your family about mental health? Do you
find yourself questioning if this is ONLY happening to you? You
are NOT alone. We at SafeSpace invite you to join us in a rich
discussion about teen mental health, some misperceptions about
it, and watch a video that will highlight bridging the
generational and cultural gap while addressing the challenges
around stigma. SafeSpace is a youth-led, mental
health-focused organization that empowers young people to
engage openly with their local schools and communities. They
create and implement initiatives to change the
conversation around mental health by educating and
encouraging their peers to speak up, support others, and
seek help when needed.
Language: English
Contact: Annie Kim | Annie@safespace.org
Fri, 5/14- 4pm-5pm | Music for Mental Health:
Kimberlye Gold
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: TBA
Language: English
Contact: John Weaver | jnweaver@menlopark.org
Fri, 5/14- 6pm-8pm | “This is Crazy:
Criminalizing Mental Health” A Film By: Brave New
Films
Location: Zoom Webinar ID: 939 9524 2833
Details: A short documentary which highlights stories of
individuals with mental illnesses who have found themselves in a
dysfunctional prison system rather than getting proper care.
Followed by a panel discussion focusing on advocacy and the
importance of decriminalizing Mental Health through lived
experience.
Language: English
Flyer: Here
Contact: Greg Thompson | info@vorsmc.org
Sat, 5/15- 6pm-7pm | Meditation as an Approach to
Handle Anxiety Uncertainty
Location: Via Zoom (Registration
Form)
Details: We’re living in a time that often feels confusing and
stressful. People are more anxious and many experience a struggle
to stay positive and true to our inner core. Through regular
meditation, we can experience profound peace, bliss, and
happiness.
Umesh Bhatia, a long-time meditator, will share the scientific
research around meditation and offer a simple meditation
technique you can use every day. We look forward to seeing you at
this informative and centering experience.
Language: English
Contact: Jessic Ormonde | Ormonde@smcl.org
Mon, 5/17- 12pm-1pm | Mental Health &
Pets
Location: Via Zoom (Registration
Link)
Details: Join us for a lunchtime talk with speakers from
Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA and Office of Diversity & Equity.
They will share their pets on zoom and talk about their
experiences. Participants are welcome to have their own pets
nearby if they want to introduce them.
Language: English
Contact: Bevin Love | belove@heartandsoulinc.org.
Tues, 5/18- 12pm-1:30pm | AAPI Anti-Stigma Speaker
Panel “Hope For Change”
Location: Zoom
Link
Details: A Special Seeing Through Stigma Panel Honoring
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Language: English
Contact: Bevin Love | belove@heartandsoulinc.org.
Wed, 5/19- 10am-11:30am | Spiritual Ideation: Mental
Wellness
Location: Zoom (Registration
Link)
Details: A panel will share the role of their faith and/or
spiritual practices in supporting resilience, wellness and
recovery. They will share how nurturing their spiritual needs
leads to whole person wellness, how their faith, faith
communities and spiritual practices support their wellness.
Language: English
Contact: John Butler | newhope8@aol.com & Jean Perry
| jeanpv78@gmail.com
Wed, 5/19- Time TBA | Growth Mindset
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: Students will learn to change fixed mindsets into a
growth mindset by developing a plan of action (I will, I can
approaches).
Language: English
Contact: Dyan de Jager | ddejager@redwoodcity.org
Thurs, 5/20- 11:30am-12:30pm | Gentle Chair
Yoga
Location: Virtual (Registration Form)
Details: Chair yoga uses the chair as a prop for support
(standing or seated). These classes will begin with centering,
followed by yoga warm-ups, yoga postures, concentration &
breathing exercises, guided relaxation, and meditation. Chair
yoga is accessible to any level of health or mobility. As you
practice, you’ll receive the benefits of increased flexibility,
physical and mental strength, energy, clarity, overall health and
peace.
Language: English
Contact: Darren Heiber | heiber@smcl.org
Thurs, 5/20- Time TBA | Meditation
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: TBA
Language: Spanish
Contact: Stacey Lein | lein@plsinfo.org
Thurs, 5/20- 7pm-8pm | Mental Health and Music with
Gaby Castro
Location: Via Zoom (Registration
Link)
Details: Gaby Castro combines her experience living with
depression and anxiety with powerful, poignant songwriting to
bring a performance surrounding mental health and music to the
Bay Area. Armed with a guitar and gentle voice, this Bay Area
native hopes to use her stories to lessen the stigma around
mental illness with songs that speak to living within the space
between helplessness and hope. Playing original songs from her
two albums, she will share the lived experience that inspired
them. A question and answer session will follow the
performance.
Language: English
Contact: Chris Lu | luc@smcl.org
Fri, 5/21- 1pm-2:30pm | Growth and Recovery in the
Face of Challenges: Re-examining Myths About Mental
Health
Location: Zoom (Registration
Link)
Details: A panel of older adults will share their lived
experience of continuing on their recovery path despite
challenges. Whether change is intentional or imposed, good or
bad, we can be empowered to continue toward recovery using
strengths we find from hope, purpose, family, community
connections, services & support, spirituality, creativity.
Language: English
Contact: John Butler | newhope8@aol.com & Jean Perry
| jeanpv78@gmail.com
Sat, 5/22- Time TBA | The Five Minute T-Shirt
Makeover- Creating Your Message of Change
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: It has been proven that working with your hands
helps reduce anxiety and the finished products enhance self
esteem! Learn how to remodel a basic T shirt using only scissors,
safety pins or easy hand sewing methods if you choose. Express
yourself using whatever markers, paints or embellishments you
have on hand to create an empowering message you can wear.
Language: English
Contact: Lanajean Vecchione@gmail.com | 650-344-6977
Sat, 5/22- 6pm-8pm | Healing Hope with Expressive
Arts
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: Inspiring change through artistic means of
healing
Language: English
Contact: Azisa Todd | azisa.todd@sanmateopride.org
Sun, 5/23- 6:30pm-7:30pm | Cafe de
Padres
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: Provider Panel and Parent Discussion
Language: Spanish
Contact: Sarah Norman | sarahnorman@friendsforyouth.org
Mon, 5/24- 12pm | Solutions for Supportive Homes:
Possibilities and Progress
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: Provider Panel and Parent Discussion
Language: TBA
Contact: Melinda Henning | melinda@melindahenning.com
Tues, 5/25- 6:30pm-8pm | Changing the Stigma: Youth Led
Discussion
Location: Zoom (Registration link in flyer)
Details: Join us for a virtual youth led panel discussion
among peers to help spread awareness and education around mental
health and wellness.
Language: English
Contact: Brenda Nuñez | hapy@star-vista.org | (650)477-4295
Wed, 5/26- 4pm-6pm | Felton Institute (re)MIND/BEAM Open
House and Early Psychosis Informational Session
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: TBA
Language: English & Spanish
Contact: Sydney Hoff
Thurs, 5/27- 10am-11am | Digital Story and Resilience
Panel
Location: Zoom
Link
Details: TBA
Language: English
Contact: Amaal Greenwood-Goodwin
Thurs, 5/27- 11:30am-12:30pm | Vinyasa
Yoga
Location: Virtual (Registration
Form)
Details: The vinyasa flow workshops involve more physically
demanding work and options will be offered to make them
accessible for all. Classes typically begin with grounding
breathing techniques to tap into your parasympathetic (rest &
digest) response. From there, you’ll enjoy a gentle warm up
before getting into a moving meditation as you flow from one pose
to another with your breath. Sessions will focus on relieving
stress and rejuvenating your body.
Language: English
Contact: Darren Heiber | heiber@smcl.org
Fri, 5/28- 2:30pm-3:30pm | Music for Mental Health:
Frances Ancheta
Location: Virtual Link TBA
Details: TBA
Language: English
Contact: John Weaver | jnweaver@menlopark.org
Fri, 5/28- 7pm-8:30pm | NAMI SMC General Meeting – Peer
Speaker, “Getting to Calm, A Personal Story of Health and Healing
from Depression
Location: Zoom Meeting ID: 886 7915 7741 | ONE TAP MOBILE
+16699006833,,88679157741
Details: Ingrid Peterson is from Kailua, Hawaii and earned
her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Stanford, with a
concentration in
Developmental Psychology. Ingrid has dedicated much of her
professional career to education, teaching from preschool through
high school levels, first as an educator at Bing Nursery School,
Laboratory Preschool of the Psychology Department at Stanford
University.
Language: English & Spanish
Flyer: PDF
Contact: Sydney Hoff
Event Coordinator Resources
This section includes resources for those who are helping coordinate or plan Mental Health Month events.
-
Programming
- 2021 Mental Health Month Event Schedule (Coming Soon!)
- Storytelling - Digital Stories and Photo Voice
- Lived Experience Academy Speakers
- Marketing
-
Evaluation
- 2021 Mental Health Month Demographic Survey (Coming Soon!)
- 2021 Mental Health Month Event Evaluation Survey (Coming Soon!)
-
Facilitation
- 2021 Mental Health Month Presentation Template (Coming Soon!)
- 2021 Mental Health Month Chat Script Template (Coming Soon!)
- Toolkit: Support for Individuals on Social and Digital Media (by National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
-
Additional Resources
- 2021 Mental Health Month Mini-Grant and Event Support Application (Closed)
- 2021 Mental Health Month Activation Kit (by Each Mind Matters)
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact the 2021 MHM Planning Co-Chairs, Sylvia Tang at STang@smcgov.org or Kristie Lui at KFLui@smcgov.org.
2021 MHM Planning Committee
Each year, the Office of Diversity and Equity at Behavioral Health Recovery Services partners up with local agencies, clients/consumers and family members, and community members to coordinate Mental Health Month.
Interested to join the 2021 Mental Health Month Planning Committee? You may find our meeting schedule here.
Thank you to our 2021 MHM Planning Committee for all your hard work!
#BeTheOneSMC
Stand Up For Mental Health this May!
One in four people have a mental health condition yet less than half are getting the help they need—many because they are afraid others will judge them.
You can be the one to help change that.
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 health conditions.
Throughout the month, you can learn more about local resources as well as find hope and inspiration through personal stories and by connecting with the greater San Mateo County community to reduce stigma and ensure San Mateo County is a welcoming and safe place for everyone.
Learn more about our Be The One SMC stigma reduction campaign and visit the Be The One photo gallery and check out how community members are making a difference!
#BeTheOneSMC to make a difference
Half of the people with mental health conditions develop symptoms by age 14. The longer someone waits to get help, the longer their recovery process becomes.
It often takes 10 years from the first time someone has mental health concerns until he or she gets a correct diagnosis and proper treatment. Would you wait 10 years to get help if you were experiencing symptoms of cancer or diabetes?
So what can you do? You can:
- Participate in Mental Health Month events (see above).
- Pledge to help stop stigma. Each of us has the power to make our community a welcoming, safe place for everyone.
- Learn the early warning signs and symptoms of mental health conditions and don’t be afraid to ask for help for yourself or a loved one.
- Post a personal message to our Be The One photo gallery.
Mental health conditions are not only common, they are treatable. There is a wide variety of treatment options for mental illnesses ranging from talk therapy to medication to peer support, and it may take some time for a person to find the right treatment or combination of treatments that works best for them. But when they do, the results can be truly amazing and life changing.
It’s up to all of us to know the signs and take action so that mental health conditions can be caught early and treated, and we can live up to our full potential. We know that intervening effectively during early stages of mental illness can save lives and change the trajectories of people living with mental health conditions. Be aware of your mental health and see your current provider or primary care physician for a screening today.
Contact
To get involved with or find out more about Mental Health Month, please contact the 2021 MHM Planning Co-Chairs, Sylvia Tang at STang@smcgov.org or Kristie Lui at KFLui@smcgov.org.
