988 is live: let’s make sure Spanish speakers know too
In July, the 988 the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline went live nationwide. This critical number will make mental health and crisis support much more accessible to anyone who needs it.
BIPOC Mental Health Month: Common barriers to mental health services
Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) are less likely than their white counterparts to utilize mental health services despite experiencing mental illness at a similar rate to white individuals.
My Mental Health Journey: From dusty beginnings to giving back
La Viola Ward is a mental health speaker and advocate. After obtaining her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, she made it her mission to share her experience living with mental illness and hopes to help to reduce many of the stigmas associated with mental health — especially within communities of color through her work.
Overworked and exhausted, California’s firefighters face a mental health crisis
Climate change has led to drought, hotter summers and longer fire seasons in California. The wildfires have only grown more intense and widespread as the state heats up. To make matters worse, wildland firefighters are short-staffed and overworked– leaving them exhausted and traumatized.
What is 988? The suicide prevention lifeline
Too often a lack of resources and social stigma leaves people who need mental health support without help. As a consequence, we have seen an “ineffective and deadly” response to people experiencing mental health crises. The 988 crisis line is an opportunity to reimagine mental health and substance use disorder crisis response to give people the help they need. Through one easy-to-remember phone number, 988 will ensure that anyone experiencing a mental health crisis receives the care they deserve.
What are peer supporters?
For some people, getting clinical treatment for mental illness or substance use disorders isn’t enough to help them succeed in their recovery. They need more personal care that empowers them to follow through with their care plan. Peer supporters offer a more personal support system for those in recovery to rely on. Peer supporters are people who have lived experience with mental illness or substance use disorders, that provide assistance to those in recovery. They build positive and welcoming relationships with those they are supporting and empowering them to succeed.
Members of California’s LGBTQ Caucus continue their fight for mental health access and LGBTQ+ rights
June is officially Pride month, but the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health is important year-round. To close out this month we asked members of the California Legislature’s LGBTQ Caucus, Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes and Assemblymember Christopher Ward, their thoughts on the importance of Pride month and how we can continue to better support LGBTQ+ mental health.
My Mental Health Journey: Ponte Las Pilas
There’s a saying in Spanish that goes “ponte las pilas,” literally meaning “put the batteries in. I heard this phrase from my dad all the time growing up and even now as an adult. If you heard someone say “put the batteries in” in English, you’d probably think about getting a remote control or a toy car, but dad was actually telling us to “put the batteries in” to ourselves.
We Need to Talk About Men’s Mental Health
On this Father’s Day, I’d like to ask something of dads out there. I realize Father’s Day is when dads are supposed to receive, rather than give. But I’m asking you to give yourself something. Because it’s critical. Give yourself a break.
The mental health impact of being LGBTQ+ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
“Being black already makes life hard…adding being gay on top [of] that is extremely difficult.” A student quote from a 2018 Human Rights Campaign report highlights the struggles LGBTQ+ youth of color face. Discrimination and mental health conditions are inextricably linked and without people that understand and offer support, LGBTQ+ youth of color are left alone.