2024 May Mental Health Month | Heal Through Connection #SMCAgainstLoneliness

Posted on by Leave a comment

Hello,

We are excited to share with our partners and communities that the theme for 2024 May Mental Health Month is Heal Through Connection #SMCAgainstLoneliness.

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.

Our Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in January declaring loneliness a public health crisis and pledging to promote social connection in our communities. According to the 2023 San Mateo County Health and Quality of Life Survey, 45% of residents in San Mateo County residents were experiencing difficulty with loneliness and isolation.

Now more than ever it is vital that we find ways to connect with one another. This May, we encourage folks to connect with others at one of our free public events, connect to resources, and connect with your community by getting involved.

More information at SMCHealth.org/MHM.

Self-Care Everyday Series: Psychological Self-Care

Posted on by Leave a comment

After delving into emotional self-care, our next focus is psychological self-care, a related yet distinct aspect of self-care. While emotional self-care strengthens our emotional resilience, psychological self-care aids in learning to ease our “fight or flight” responses, thus soothing our nervous systems and creating room for deeper self-awareness.  

Psychological self-care involves nurturing growth, whether personal or professional, and direction attention to elements within our control. Dedicating moments to notice our inner thoughts, feelings and experiences builds awareness and encourages growth in areas where improvement is possible.  

Psychological self-care encompasses a variety of activities, including, but not limited to: 

  • Make time away from phones, work and the internet  
  • Make time for self-reflection  
  • Notice your inner experience – listen to your thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, feelings 
  • Have your own personal therapist/counselor        
  • Write in a journal  
  • Read literature that is unrelated to work  
  • Do something at which you are an expert or in charge  
  • Attend to minimizing stress in your life 
  • Engage your intelligence in a new area (e.g., go to an art show, sports event, theatre) 
  • Be curious 
  • Say no to extra responsibilities sometimes 

The possibilities for psychological self-care are diverse and adaptable to individual preferences and needs. By prioritizing psychological self-care through these practices, we learn to ease our “flight or fight” responses which alleviates our nervous systems, thus creating room for us to become one with true our inner selves. 

Exploring my psychological self-care now involves delving into photography, a passion I’ve cherished for years. Integrating photography into my well-being routine is a mindful practice, achieved by strolling through my neighborhood and capturing the beauty of nature. These walks serve as a digital detox forcing me to disconnect from technology, while photography serves to ease for my mind, unleashing my inner creative child to run wild. Each image I capture reflects my unique perspective on the world, reminding me of the importance of carving out daily moments for myself and my self-care. See below for some photos I’ve taken for my psychological self-care.

Sources:  
Iowa’s Area Education Agencies: Mental Health and Wellbeing 
Mental Health Guide: Psychological Self-Care 

5/2 – MHSA Steering Committee: Prop 1 Next Steps

Posted on by Leave a comment

We look forward to connecting with you at our next MHSA Steering Committee meeting, scheduled for Thursday, May 2nd.  Once again, we will have a NEW physical location for those that want to join us in-person.  The goal is to find a meeting location that allows for hybrid meetings, is accessible to public transportation and can remain consistent for us.  We will try the San Mateo Library next and new technology to help us host a hybrid meeting.  The Zoom link is also included below if you prefer to join virtually and the phone line for conferencing in.  The latest information for MHSA can always be found on the MHSA website, www.smchealth.org/MHSA, under the “Announcements” tab.

Next MHSA Steering Committee – May 2, 2024, from 3-4:30pm (hybrid meeting)

Now that we have the vote results for Proposition 1, we will be focusing the meeting on next steps, timeline for implementation and an opportunity for participants to provide input on the community planning process that will support implementation.

Thank you!

Commissioner Jean Perry, MHSA Steering Committee Co-chairperson
Commissioner Leti Bido, MHSA Steering Committee Co-chairperson
Doris Estremera, MHSA Manager

5/10- Pacific Islander Mana Youth Summit

Posted on by Leave a comment

We are excited to extend this personal invitation for the upcoming Pacific Islander Mana Youth Summit on Friday, May 10th 2024 at Skyline College. This year, the summit’s theme, “Embracing our Roots and Forging our Futures” hopes to bring youth together, allies, school administrators with leaders within the Pacific Islander community who want to share their stories of resilience, lived experience and journeys to support and uplift them towards violence reduction, academic success, promote higher education and career pathways. In an effort to address chronic absenteeism in our county, where Pacific Islanders have the highest rate at 44.9% among any other group including the state average.

To facilitate your students’ participation, please express your interest by contacting us at social@pcrcweb.org. Upon receiving your email, we will promptly forward the registration form necessary for your students’ attendance. It is important to note that each student must have a completed parent permission slip to partake in the summit activities.

We also require each school or group to provide at least one chaperone for every ten students attending, to ensure a safe and organized experience for everyone involved. Please be assured that there is no cost to attend the summit, as our goal is to make this an accessible opportunity for all students to see and hear from role models within the Pacific Islander community who have pursued higher education.

To support your school and students, we are pleased to offer transportation services for those who may require assistance in getting to the summit. We believe that access to education and developmental opportunities should be barrier-free, and we are prepared to help facilitate this for your student body.

If your school is interested in this offer or if you have any questions regarding the transportation arrangements, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at social@pcrcweb.org. We are here to assist in making the summit an accessible, inclusive, and impactful event for all students.

We look forward to the possibility of your school’s participation in what promises to be an inspirational and transformative event for your students. Please find the attached flyer and summit overview for your consideration.   Feel free to share with others who may have an interest. We appreciate your partnership. 

In Community,
Your Partners at Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC)

2024 Tony Hoffman Award – Deadline 4/24

Posted on by Leave a comment
2023 Tony Hoffman Awards

The Tony Hoffman Community Mental Health Services Award recognizes individuals, professionals, businesses, and the media who have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of people with mental illness and the communities in which they live.

Recognition is given for public education or advocacy to promote mental health awareness and needs or to address stigma; public education and services to provide housing and employment for persons with mental illness; creation of new and innovative programs or community support activities; recognition of fundraising for mental health activities or long-term financial support to mental health programs; or working for new mental health legislation.

We also honor mental health consumers who, in their journey of recovery, are able to give back to their peers or the community. Awards are presented each May during Mental Health Month. 

See nomination form below.

Tony-Hoffman-Application_2024-1Download

Bay Area Health Officials Urge Vigilance as Measles Cases Rise in the US

Posted on by Leave a comment

While the risk of measles exposure remains low for most Bay Area residents, the increasing number of cases nationwide and in California underscores the importance of robust protection against this highly contagious and dangerous illness.

What’s important to know: 

  • The best protection against measles is two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which protects you for life. This is particularly important for anyone travelling internationally in the upcoming months.
  • Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (pink eye), followed 2-4 days later by a rash.
  • The virus is transmitted through direct contact with infectious droplets or through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Infectious droplets can linger in indoor air for several hours.
  • If traveling internationally, watch for signs and symptoms of measles for 3 weeks after returning to the United States.

Read more here.

Self-Care Everyday Series: Emotional Self-Care

Posted on by Leave a comment

Another facet of self-care is emotional self-care. To simplify, think of emotional self-care as effectively managing emotional distress. Stress manifests in various forms, thus it is crucial to equip ourselves to combat distress when it arises. An effective strategy to combat distress is leveraging our personal strengths. This can be achieved through daily positive affirmations and exploring new avenues of embracing self-love. Often, we are too caught up in the whirlwinds of life to pause in the present moment and acknowledge the small victories we make each and every day. 

By actively engaging in emotional self-care and fostering mindfulness, we become cognizant of detrimental habits disadvantageous to our overall emotional well-being. Through this newfound awareness, we strengthen our emotional resilience while simultaneously prioritizing our health and wellness.  

Emotional self-care encompasses a variety of activities, including, but not limited to: 

  • Spending time with others whose company we enjoy 
  • Giving affirmations that promote self-love 
  • Buying ourselves a present 
  • Practicing forgiveness, not only among others, but with ourselves as well 
  • Re-reading favorite books, re-viewing favorite movies and tv shows 
  • Identifying comforting activities, objects, people, places and seeking them out 
  • Allowing ourselves to cry 
  • Finding things that make us laugh 
  • Social justice engagement 

The possibilities for emotional self-care are diverse and adaptable to individual preferences and needs. By prioritizing emotional self-care through these practices, we lay the foundation for effectively managing stress, nurturing personal relationships, and embracing life’s experiences more fully. 

An essential part of my emotional self-care routine revolves around incorporating positive and loving affirmations to enhance my emotional well-being. I create what I refer to as “self-love notes” using sticky notes, strategically placing them where I’ll appreciate them as soon as I wake up and before I go to bed. This practice ensures I begin and end my days with a sense of gratitude. Moreover, these notes serve as a gentle reminder to give myself grace, particularly during challenging days that take a toll on my physical and mental emotional well-being. 

Written by Ayanna Wade (she/her), BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity Intern

BHRS Director’s Newsletter – April 2024

Posted on by Leave a comment

Please see the latest issue of the Director’s Newsletter from BHRS Director, Dr. Jei Africa. 

Topics include:  

  • April Announcements 
  • Voices in the Field: Saving Lives One Connection at a Time 
  • Drifting to Driven: IMAT Shares a Client Story 
  • IMAT Referral Data: March 2023 – February 2024 
  • “Heart Work”: Youth Prevention in North San Mateo County 
      

Find past issues here.  

Visit the BHRS website and blog. 

Congratulations to Dr. Maria Lorente-Foresti for Induction to the San Mateo County Women Hall of Fame!

Posted on by Leave a comment

On Friday, 3/8/24, at Skyline College, Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Office of Diversity & Equity (ODE), Dr. Maria Lorente-Foresti was inducted into the San Mateo County Women Hall of Fame. The ceremony landed on International Women’s Day and was a celebration of incredible women throughout San Mateo County.  

Dr. Maria Lorente-Foresti has excelled in many different roles within San Mateo County including a psychologist, behavioral health clinic Unit Supervisor, Parent Project Program Coordinator and Director of ODE. With these different roles, Dr. Lorente-Foresti has made many impactful contributions in advancing the behavioral health & well-being of our San Mateo County community, especially for marginalized and underserved populations. For County community, she has supported the San Mateo County Pride Celebration and Sana Sana Events since inception and developed and implemented policy allowing behavioral health providers and clients to openly talk about how spirituality shapes a participant’s mental health and well-being.  

Dr. Lorente-Foresti’s leadership style is a unique combination of compassion, collaboration and perseverance. She brings these qualities into her work, community and family. In her family she is a single working caregiver supporting her elder parents and her son. In her community, she participates and supports community organizing for racial equity. And in her work, she leads with love and compassion despite forces of fear, hate and racism persisting in many parts of our society. Overall, she has an energy and brightness that shows she never loses sight of humanity and a larger vision where each one of us in San Mateo County may realize a healthy and meaningful life.  

Dr. Lorente-Foresti states in her acceptance speech, “I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina… during this journey my parents and my brother showed me resiliency, how to navigate challenges and the importance of community.” 

As Maria describes impactful moments in her life that shape her work she states, “these experiences are intertwined with my parents instilling in me the values of compassion sacrifice hard work in addition to a deep understanding that to create change you need many hearts and many hands.”  

Additionally, Dr. Lorente-Foresti has empowered staff and local community members to support and advocate for behavioral health equity and social justice for the San Mateo County community. While she advanced the wellness of employees, she also empowers employees to share their voice and shape the behavioral health system they work in and larger communities they are part of. For example, she engages her staff to engage in the unit decision making process as much as possible. She wants her staff to be empowered to shape the work of the team including strategy implementation, operations and employee engagement.  

The Women Hall of Fame recipient also plays a pivotal role in advancing multi-cultural organizational development for San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, supporting Government Alliance for Racial Equity (GARE) cohort and staff training for San Mateo County Health (now expanded Countywide), serving on the County Equal Employment Opportunity Committee and leading BHRS Health Equity Initiatives for the larger community.  

Once more, congratulations to Dr. Maria Lorente-Foresti for the honor she brings to Behavioral Health & Recovery Services!  

Recording of the event will be shared on San Mateo County Youtube.  

Watch CBS’ Coverage of the event here.  

Learn more about the San Mateo County Women Hall of Fame here.  

Congratulations to 13 New Health Ambassador Graduates!

Posted on by Leave a comment

On February 7th, 2024, Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Office of Diversity & Equity‘s Health Ambassadors welcomed 13 new graduates of the Health Ambassador Program. This is the first in-person graduation since 2019, and it was a spectacular evening filled with joy, community, and connection. The evening consisted of the awards ceremony, a slideshow highlighting the successes of the program over the past few years, and guest speakers/ presenters including Dr. Maria Lorente Foresti, Scott Gruendl, Clara Boyden and more.

Some of the successes highlighted from Fiscal Year 21-22 and Fiscal Year 22-23 include:
– 119 unduplicated clients served
– 21,000 individuals served
– 45 resource tables
– 10 trainings to support/advocate for behavioral health wellness
– 4 Focus groups: retired Congresswoman foundation, MHSA 3-Year plan, Youth Commission Roadmap, State Suicide Prevention campaign.

The Health Ambassadors also played a key role in COVID-19 support and outreach including:

  • Production of 4 Facebook Live community events to support San Mateo County COVID Response
  • Creation of PSAs -in English, Zapotec, Tongan, Tagalog, and Spanish to promote vaccination.
  • Distribution of mental health support and masks in laundromats, grocery stores, and food bank sites.

About the Health Ambassador Program:
Health Ambassadors are individuals who are committed to helping to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals in their community and complete the Health Ambassador Program. San Mateo County’s Behavioral Health and
Recovery Services (BHRS) Health Ambassador Program was created in recognition of the important role that community members serve in effectively reaching out to others.

As a community member with knowledge and experience, you can make a difference in the lives of families, friends, neighbors, and other members in your community who may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness and/or a substance use problem.

Learn more at SMCHealth.org/HAP.

« Older Entries