Dear Friends,
I hope you and your loved ones are well.
May is Mental Health Month, a time to raise awareness about mental health, fight stigma, provide support, and educate the community on the mental health challenges that exist among our neighbors. This month, we are excited to partner with San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and the Office of Diversity and Equity to host free community events this week focused on mental health and wellness.
Thursday, May 19 from 4-6:30pm Empowering Youth through Storytelling. Hosted by StarVista’s Health Ambassador Program – Youth, this event is an open forum to empower youth in San Mateo County to take action for their Mental Health by sharing a story that is inspiring, freeing, and de-stigmatizing. Come join us as we listen to youth share their experiences with mental health, and if you feel moved to, you’re more than welcome to share your story as well. Register Here
Sunday, May 22 from 12-4:00pm StarVista’s Mental Health Matters Walk. Join us as we take steps to strengthen the mental health and well-being of San Mateo County! StarVista’s Mental Health Matters Walk is a strong catalyst for change in our community. Your participation and advocacy will help us reach more people than ever before and offer the tools and resources to help our community take the first step in strengthening their mental health and wellness. Our new event celebrating Mental Health Month and StarVista’s essential mental health services will feature a walk, food, activities, yoga, and special guest speakers from the community. Some of our programs will also be in attendance to share service information and mental health resources. This event is free and open to all ages. Register Here
This month, we are also grateful to partner with the City of San Mateo, San Mateo County law enforcement, and San Mateo County Fire to spread the word about our essential mental health services through our Mental Health Matters campaign. Throughout this month, you can see our 24/7 Crisis Hotline on public service vehicles. Through this partnership, we aim to bring awareness to this important service that helps individuals who are facing suicidal thoughts, or who just need someone to talk to.
We were awarded the 2022 San Mateo County Jobs for Youth (JFY) Community Impact Award in recognition of our impact on supporting youth development in San Mateo County! JFY serves youth ages 14-21 who reside or attend school in San Mateo County. They provide free job skills workshops to help them build confidence and awareness about the special skills they possess, as well as a free youth job board to connect youth to employers near their home or school. This year San Mateo County Jobs for Youth is celebrating 40 years of empowering San Mateo County youth and celebrating on May 19th, 2022. Learn more
I would also like to thank the City of Redwood City and the City of San Carlos for honoring StarVista at its Mental Health Month proclamation events last week.
Lastly, we invite you to join us in recognizing Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. According to NAMI, lack of understanding about mental illness and stigma associated with mental health issues can lead to denial or neglect of mental health problems, especially among first-generation AAPI immigrants. Discover resources and events honoring the AAPI community on our social media @StarVistaSMC.
Wishing you good health.
Sincerely,
Sara Larios Mitchell, Ph.D., MACP
CEO