Be Kind To Your Mind
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! We are committed to bringing support and awareness to our community, because mental health matters! Below you will find a variety of FREE events and activities. Can't make an event? You can still show your support at home by downloading our 2023 Activity Guide or browsing the Take Action for Mental Health Toolkit online.
Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more May Mental Health updates and activities.
Get Involved in May Mental Health Awareness Month:
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Mental Wellness Kits for Local Students: Mental health self-care kits will be handed out to SLO County students through their school counseling centers on campus. Kits include resources to support mental health like a journal for youth to write a mental wellness plan to refer back to when they are stressed, green ribbons to wear in support of mental health month, a scavenger hunt to encourage kids to look to nature for healing, pop-fidget key chains and stress balls that encourage calmness, and more. Reach out to your school counselor for more information or to receive a kit.
- Recipes for Self-Care with SLO Food Bank: Taking care of your health requires both nutritional food and mental wellness! We are partnering with SLO Food Bank to distribute self-care recipe cards at select senior farmers markets in May. The recipe cards include “ingredients” on how to reduce stress, practice mindfulness, and maintain emotional wellness. Stop by a senior’s farmers market location to participate or download the recipe cards here.
- Free Mental Health First Aid Classes: Mental Health First Aid teaches how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in either youth or adults. Two classes are available for the community to register free of charge, taking place virtually over Zoom in June 2023. Register by May 31; space is limited!
- Journey of Hope: Join Transitions-Mental Health Association for this inspiring evening of an exploration of teen mental health through personal stories, education, and community connection. This year’s keynote speaker is filmmaker Amanda Lipp. Drawing on her own personal experience with mental health challenges, she is focused on elevating complex topics like youth psychosis, mass trauma, LGBTQ advocacy, and recreation therapy.
- Monday, May 1, 5pm-8pm at New Life Community Church, Pismo Beach
- Friday Night Live (FNL) Spring Youth Summit: The FNL Spring Summit is a free yearly leadership conference for middle school students in San Luis Obispo County (grades 6-8). Workshops will focus on leadership skill building, mindfulness, positive coping skills, and the transition between middle and high school. Workshops will be taught by FNL staff and current FNL high school members. Limited, first come first serve transportation will be available from North County and South County. Behavioral Health staff will reach out to coordinate based on registration responses. Register by May 1!
- Saturday, May 6, 10am-2pm, Colony Park Community Center 5599 Traffic Way, Atascadero Register here.
- SLO County Health Agency Bike Breakfast: Our annual Bike Breakfast is back! This event promotes Bike to Work Week and May Mental Health Awareness Month. A great way to take care of your mental health is by exercising! Community members are encouraged to bike to the event for breakfast, music, games, and more. You can take your breakfast burrito or donut to-go or stick around for activities and conversation.
- Transitions- Mental Health Association "Nurture Yourself" Deals: To celebrate and honor Mental Health Awareness Month our friends in the community want to help you to Nurture You. When you mention Transitions-Mental Health Association at one of the 6 businesses on this flyer you will get 20% off services.
- View all May Mental Health Awareness Month events happening with our friends at Transitions- Mental Health Association on their website here.