Mental health issues are increasing worldwide—particularly in teens. Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. Building on the Mental Health First Aid Training that San Mateo County Libraries is offering to the public throughout the year, we have a series of trainings in September for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
"Be Sensitive, Be Brave for Suicide Prevention" trainings infuse culture and diversity throughout a foundational workshop on mental health for community members who are high school-age and above. This free workshop from San Mateo County Behavioral Health, opens a new window is available to adults and teens high school age and up, and prepares community members to help friends and loved ones during times of distress. Teens may be able to receive service credit for attending the trainings, depending on their schools' guidelines.
Learn how to recognize mental health conditions, what to do when someone needs support and tools for maintaining good mental health, including how to:
- Identify someone in mental distress
- Practice being sensitive and brave in helping others
- Increase awareness of mental health resources
- Build resilience using a recipe for mental health
- Build cultural sensitivity around mental health
- Respond to community needs and decrease stigma
San Mateo County Libraries will offer several sessions during September:
Monday, September 11, 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Woodside, opens a new window
Wednesday, September 13, 6:00 to 8:00 PM at East Palo Alto, opens a new window
Saturday, September 16, 2:00 to 4:00 PM at San Carlos, opens a new window
Monday, September 18, 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Pacifica Sharp Park
Wednesday, September 20, 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Portola Valley, opens a new window
Thursday, September 21, 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Millbrae, opens a new window
Monday, September 25, 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Belmont, opens a new window
Wednesday, September 27, 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Atherton
Thursday, September 28, 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Half Moon Bay
Get Help
If you or anyone you know is in crisis, please call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Additional phone, text and in-person crisis resources can be found on the San Mateo County Health Crisis Resources page: https://www.smchealth.org/post/crisis-resources
- Call
- StarVista Crisis Hotline: (650) 579-0350
- National Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)
- Text
- National Crisis Texline: Text “Bay” to 741741
- StarVista Teen Crisis Services (Mon-Thurs, 4:30pm-9:30pm): 650-747-6463
- Visit
- StarVista Crisis Center: sanmateocrisis.org , opens a new window
- National Crisis Textline: crisistextline.org , opens a new window
Learn More
For more in-depth inquiry about understanding suicide, the root causes, and how to help, find these prevention focused books and more in our collection:
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