During May, which is Mental Health Matters Month, the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness is marking its 60th anniversary of providing services to the Santa Barbara County community.
Mental Health Month was established in 1949 with the goal of increasing awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in the lives of Americans, and to celebrate recovery from mental illness.
Behavioral Wellness encourages the community to take action with their mental health, as well as the mental health of others, and remove the stigma that prevents people from receiving the support and services they need. Throughout May, a number of activities are taking place in the community to support this effort.
May 3: Board of Supervisors to honor May as Mental Health Month by Resolution.
May 5-6: Zoom Headspace Webinars to assist with signing up for free Headspace meditation app offered through Behavioral Wellness; 5:30 p.m. May 5 (Spanish); 5:30 p.m. May 6 (English).
May 10, 17, 24, 31: Zoom Youth Digital Literacy Workshops. 4-5:30 p.m.
May 14: Indigenous Inter-Tribal Wellness Gathering, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Santa Maria High School practice field south.
May 26: Zoom Peer Empowerment Conference. 9 a.m.-noon.
To learn more about Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness, visit https://www.countyofsb.org/274/Behavioral-Wellness. For assistance accessing Behavioral Wellness services, call the 24/7 toll free Crisis Response and Services Access Line, 888-868-1649.