Throughout May, San Mateo County honors Mental Health Awareness Month, opens a new window (MHAM)! Join us and Each Mind Matters, opens a new window in embracing this year’s Express Yourself theme.
MHAM aims to inspire our community to spread awareness and open conversations about mental health and substance use. You are invited to express your experience, take action to combat stigma, and find solidarity with your loved ones and neighbors.
San Mateo County Libraries and Peninsula Library System, opens a new window has partnered with the San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, opens a new window (BHRS) and other local agencies, community colleges, and support organizations to curate a variety of free MHAM awareness events. This includes informational workshops, expert panels, book discussion groups, musical performances, and more.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s MHAM events will take place virtually. You can access these free events over Zoom, which is available for download on your computer, smartphone, or other internet-enabled device.
We hope you will join us in expressing ourselves from home!
Upcoming Virtual Events
You can find an updated calendar of remote Mental Health Awareness Month events at the BHRS website, opens a new window. You can also download this flyer, opens a new window to share with neighbors, family members, and friends!
Here are just a few of the upcoming events we’re looking forward to. These events are not hosted by San Mateo County Libraries and therefore may be updated, changed, or canceled with little notice. Be sure to check the BHRS schedule for a complete list of events, updates, and Zoom links.
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Around Trauma
Do you feel you have lost your power? Voices of Recovery San Mateo County, opens a new window is here to offer Wellness Tools and Action Plans to help you reclaim it in empowering, sustainable ways. See this event flyer, opens a new window for more information.
Burlingame Reads 2020 Featuring The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang
Developed in partnership with NAMI San Mateo County, opens a new window, Burlingame Reads 2020, opens a new window includes a series of workshops, author events, and book discussions geared toward challenging mental health stigma. Borrow a copy of Wang’s celebrated book of essays, The Collected Schizophrenias, opens a new window, and join the following events:
- Thursday, 5/7 at 1:00 PM and Friday 5/8 at 7:00 PM: Our Lives, Our Voices: Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Health Issues, with local organization Heart and Soul, Inc, opens a new window.
- Tuesday, 5/12 at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM: Book Discussion on Chapters 1-6 of The Collected Schizophrenias
- Tuesday, 5/19 at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM: Book Discussion on Chapters 7-13 of The Collected Schizophrenias
- Thursday, 5/28 at 7:00 PM: Virtual Author Event w/ Esmé Weijun Wang, opens a new window
Self-Care: Who’s Got Time for That?
Join experts Dr. Julie Nicholson and Julie Kurtz to develop authentic, accessible self-care strategies that can serve you.
Ask a Doctor: Mental Health During COVID-19
Join San Mateo County Psychiatry Residents Kristoffer Strauss, MD; Juan Lopez, MD; and Tram Nguyen, MD for this panel discussion on mental health during COVID-19.
Performances by Gaby Castro, Singer/Songwriter and Mental Health Advocate
Hear musical artist Gaby Castro express her experience with mental illness through song.
- Thursday, 5/14 7:00-8:30 PM: Live & Aloud Online (recommended age is 13+)
- Tuesday, 5/19 3:30-5:00 PM: Performance for Teens (grades 6-12), opens a new window
Every Body Is A Good Body: Disability Justice, Fat Activism, & Mental Health, a Conversation w/ Virgie Tovar and Alex Locust
Adults and teens are invited to this conversation about advocating for our bodies and ourselves.
Virtual Open Mic at the Pride Center
Express yourself through a song, poem, story, or piece of spoken word at the San Mateo County Pride Center’s, opens a new window Open Mic. If you are interested in sharing, be sure to sign up by 5/13, opens a new window. You can download the flyer here, opens a new window.
MHAM Resources at Your Library
Even though our buildings are closed, we are still here for you. Take a look at this list of eResources for practicing mindfulness in uncertain times.
Be sure to share San Mateo County Mental Health Awareness Month events and resources with your friends, neighbors, and family members with the hashtags #BeTheOneSMC and #ExpressYourself.
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