Santa Barbara County will be joining other counties and the nation in lighting up buildings in lime green throughout the month in honor of May is Mental Health Month.
Light Up Green aims to show community members that nobody is alone facing mental health challenges. Some of the community partners joining the Department of Behavioral Wellness in lighting up green include:
Santa Barbara County administration buildings, Santa Barbara Courthouse, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, County Office of Emergency Management, CALM, Carpinteria Community Library, Carpinteria Health Center, CarpConnect, Carpinteria City Hall, CommUnify, Family Service Agency, Foodbank, Girls Inc. Carpinteria, Isla Vista Community Center, Lompoc Veteran’s Building, Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center, Mental Wellness Center, Pathpoint, SBCC, Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center, Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic, Telecare, UCSB, and Zona Seca.
To see some of our Santa Barbara County buildings recognized on the national list of buildings lighting up, click here.
In addition to countywide buildings lighting up green, a variety of local events will be taking place, including:
• Mental Wellness Center is offering a number of events free to the community, which can be found here.
• May 2 – Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors hearing proclaiming May as Mental Health Month.
• May 6 – Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital free Mental Health Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more, click here.
• Santa Barbara Response Network offering no cost trainings for the community on Psychological First Aid.
â—¦ May 3 (English) in Isla Vista. More information and registration here.
â—¦ May 11 (Spanish) in Guadalupe. More information and registration here.
Ways community members can recognize May as Mental Health Month:
• Downloading a 2023 May is Mental Health Month poster or a poster urging people to take a quick mental health screening to hang up around their workplace.
• Lime green is the official color for mental health. Wear lime green all month.
• Share personal stories of wellness or self-care tips with others.
For help with mental health concerns, 988 is a national crisis line that can be reached by phone or text.
Behavioral Wellness toll-free Crisis Response and Services Access Line can be reached 24/7 at 888-868-1649 for assistance in receiving services.
For more about Santa Barbara County’s Department of Behavioral Wellness, visit http://countyofsb.org/behavioral-wellness.