Mental Health Association of San Francisco

If you were at the San Francisco Pride Parade this year, you may have seen MHASF staff marching in our contingent. If you weren’t there, you can watch this video recap to experience it yourself! Pride was invigorating and made us feel so full of love and hope. In these days when there is so much darkness—with tragedies happening both across the world and right here in our own neighborhoods — we needed the reminder that we have support through community. The best part was we got to go out and raise awareness for The California Peer-Run Warm Line by passing out cards with our number on it. According to Mental Health America, “LGBTQ+ individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights. Discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons has been associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and suicide.” We are grateful for the opportunity to help with bridging that gap via our Peer-Run Warm Line. We were so happy to gather with our LGBTQ+ siblings and celebrate the diversity in our community. Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️✨ Call or Text 855-600-WARM (9276) to speak with a peer counselor 24/7 #Pride #PeerWarmLine #mentalhealth #lgbtq #lgbtqia

🎉 July is Disability Pride Month! ♿ It's a time to celebrate diversity, advocate for accessibility, and honor the achievements of individuals with disabilities. Did you know that the disability community is one of the largest and most diverse marginalized communities, encompassing all genders, ages, abilities, ethnicities, socio-economic statuses and races? For this reason, it’s imperative we learn from one another to build bridges to a more accessible world. Let's embrace inclusion, break down barriers, and promote a world where everyone can thrive. Together, we're stronger! 💪💙 #DisabilityPride #AccessibilityMatters #CelebrateDiversity

BIPOC Mental Health Month is grounded in the recognition of historical injustices, ongoing disparities, and the resilience of BIPOC communities in navigating mental health challenges amidst systemic barriers. Throughout July, we can promote solidarity amongst a diverse population while reflecting on the systemic issues faced by the community. Because there are so many experiences between the Black community, Indigenous community and People of Color, it is important to come together and listen to one another and work proactively to create services with cultural humility and foster community. Diversity always strengthens the peer movement — so this month and every month we celebrate and recognize the important contributions BIPOC peers bring to the table. #BIPOCMentalHealth #BIPOC #Inclusivity #resilience

The Peer Movement has been influenced by many other movements led by other marginalized communities. Let’s talk about how MHASF’s Peer Warmline finds its roots in the LGBTQ+ community. In 1982 the first AIDS hotline in the world started with a volunteer’s home answering machine. Gay Men’s Health Crisis received over 100 calls that very first night. In the 80s and 90s, activists in the Psychiatric Survivor Movement launched “Warm Lines” in California, based on lived experience and peer-to-peer support. Fast forward to this July, when the California Warm Line will celebrate its tenth anniversary, joining the proud legacy of call lines offering support to those in need. You can learn more about the Peer Warmline here: https://lnkd.in/gXTeKxm6 We want to recognize and celebrate Pride and how the LGBTQ+ community has impacted our movement. LGBTQ+ Peers are a vibrant part of the community and add their invaluable perspectives to enrich the community. Happy Pride! 🌈🎉 #MentalHealthRecovery #PeerSupport #EndTheStigma #Pride #PrideSF #LQBTQmentalHealth

MHASF is proud to celebrate the way diversity strengthens and enriches our community. To celebrate the week of Juneteenth, we want to elevate an invaluable support group we have called B.L.A.D.E. [Black Lives Advocating Demonstrating Elevating] B.L.A.D.E. is an African American support group that talks about the challenges of living with mental health while navigating the real-world challenges of everyday life. This group meets Mondays at 5pm on Zoom. Check out https://lnkd.in/gu7imtw2 for more info. #juneteenth #diversity #freedomday #BlackHistory

Juneteenth commemorates the day when Federal Troops entered Gavelstone, TX to enforce an executive order known as the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19th 1865. African Americans were still enslaved up to this point despite the Emancipation Proclamation being 2 ½ years prior. The executive order being carried out was only one tiny part of American history which encapsulates the true fight for freedom and equality in the US. Juneteenth is a day to honor those who fought and continue to fight tirelessly for freedom and equality while reflecting on our progress and the work ahead. As we observe Juneteenth, let's commit ourselves to amplifying Black voices, dismantling systemic racism, and creating a more just and inclusive society for all. Together, we can ensure that the promise of freedom and equality is fully realized. Happy Juneteenth! ✊🏾❤️ #juneteenth #diversity #freedomday #BlackHistory

This week is Multiracial Heritage Week! Did you know that multiracial population is one of the fastest growing communities of color in the US? This group is one that faces many mental health challenges due to discrimination, microaggressions, and a history of slavery and oppression in our country. It can also be difficult to find providers that multiracial people can identify with due to a lack of diversity in the mental health field. Cultural humility training is important for providers as well as diverse people entering the mental health field to provide support. Let’s celebrate our multiracial community this week and every week as we recognize that diversity enriches our communities! #multiracialheritageweek #diversity #mentalhealth #multiracialheritage

June is PTSD Awareness Month—let’s talk about it. Many people relate PTSD to veterans, but PTSD can affect anyone—young and old—who has experienced trauma. Trauma can occur from experiencing violence, abuse, childhood neglect, natural disasters and more. Some folks might experience signs of PTSD immediately after the traumatic experience, for others they won’t experience signs for years. Someone with PTSD: • Re-experiences the trauma in ways that makes them feel distressed. This can occur by thinking of the event even when you don’t want to, flashbacks that put you back in the moment or even nightmares. • Avoidance—specifically avoiding things that remind the person about the trauma, often referred to as triggers. This would include places, people, sounds, smells, events etc. • Changes in thoughts and mood—including self-blame, depression, brain fog, memory loss and more. • Feeling reactive—such as anger, hyper-vigilance, difficulty sleeping and more. If you are experiencing PTSD, it’s important to seek support. Things like therapy and support groups can be a huge help. Even checking out related support groups such as a WRAP group can help plan how to live your life fully while dealing with the challenges that PTSD can present. MHASF hosts a number of support groups who hold space for healing from past trauma. Go to https://lnkd.in/gu7imtw2 for more info. If a loved one or friend has PTSD, you can support by offering to listen and most of all taking them seriously when they tell you about a trigger. PTSD can be a very distressing out of body, time and space experience. If your friend or loved one expresses that they cannot go to a certain place or do a certain activity, do not try to pressure them. You can also ask what you can do to be supportive before support is needed, so you are prepared for triggers out in the world. PTSD can make life difficult to navigate at times, but with reduction of stigma, support from community and resources we can work together to make life a little easier. #PTSDAwareness #PTTSDAwarenessMonth #MentalHealthMatters

Corinita, MHASF's Digital Media Coordinator, shares about their love for journaling, poetry and writing in general. For them, writing is a tool to get their thoughts out on paper and support their wellness. If you haven't tried journaling, you can look back on some of the prompts we posted last month and try it out! Journaling doesn't have to be daily entries, sometimes it can go off of prompts, quick ideas, poems, drawings...whatever your heart desires! What one person finds supportive for their wellness may not apply to you, so try it out and determine what is most helpful for you. #journaling #journalforwellness #PracticeMakesWellness #MayIsMentalHealthMonth #writeitout

We’re excited to share that we received an #AirbnbCommunityFund grant! Thank you Airbnb and the Airbnb Host community for supporting organizations like MHASF! https://lnkd.in/dHMrx9yR