Mental Health Awareness Month May 1 - 31

May 2 challenge: Say hello and give a warm smile to someone at the grocery store

Mental Health Awareness Month kicks off on May 1 and the community is encouraged to participate in a 31-day challenge to honor not only their own mental health, but that of others.

Throughout this challenge, the community is encouraged to perform a daily task that can help everyone learn more about good mental health habits, what mental health resources are available locally and ways to reach out to our family, friends, coworkers and community members struggling with mental health because Each Mind Matters.

Mental health affects us all and #reducethestigma is the social media campaign created to keep the conversation open. Being open about one's own mental health helps reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illness and lets others know you care.

We all experience different levels of mental health throughout our lives. In fact, according to Each Mind Matters, half of us will deal with some type of mental health challenge over the course of our lifetime. Unfortunately, sometimes these challenges can become more serious and require more attention, so being informed helps people know where to go and who to talk to.

During the month, there are local events as well as a calendar of daily activities people can follow to not only help others, but to help themselves (view calendar):

Cinco NO Drinko Party and Games (adults only) - Thursday, May 5 – 1-4pm
El Dorado County Mental Health Department’s Wellness Center – 1900 Lake Tahoe Blvd, SLT

Yoga for all Ages - Tuesday, May 10 – 5:30pm - Middle School Multipurpose Room (hosted by Live Violence Free) - 2940 Lake Tahoe Blvd, SLT

Paper Tigers Movie Screening and Community Forum (two screenings) - Wednesday, May 11 (time TBD) at South Tahoe High School – 1735 Lake Tahoe Blvd, SLT and Friday, May 20 - 7pm at Lake Tahoe Community College – One College Ave, SLT

Wellness Lecture: Mental Health Panel on Depression - Thursday, May 12 - 6-7pm
Lake Tahoe Community College’s Board Room (hosted by Barton Health) - One College Ave, SLT

Mental Health First Aid Class - Tuesday, May 31 – 8:30am-5:30pm - Barton University, sign up at education.bartonhealth.org. (led by El Dorado County staff)

A one hour video narrated by Glenn Close shows how mental health issues affect one-in-four people, including her family with bi-polar disease, diver Greg Louganis and his several attempts at suicide, ballet dancer Elena Lindsey and many others: A New State of Mind: Ending the Stigma of Mental Illness