Introducing the new electronic format of Wellness Matters, an e-journal of San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. Now you can easily browse, search and share these articles.
September is the 28th annual National Recovery Month, and here in San Mateo County we are celebrating our residents in recovery from substance and mental health issues as well as their family members, supporters and providers who helped them on their journey.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and this month San Mateo County is joining a national conversation that aims to raise awareness about suicide prevention, and the everyday steps that we can each take to help prevent suicide in our communities.
This is my last article as your Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services as I will be retiring at the end of September. It has been an honor and privilege to work in and for San Mateo County in service to our BHRS clients, consumers and families. During my tenure I witnessed – often first hand – extraordinary courage, perseverance and optimism in the face of daunting challenges and doing so has inspired and motivated me daily.
During recovery month, we highlight the incredible journey of individuals from all walks of life who have found recovery. They are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and show that treatment is effective and people do recover. We hope these stories encourage others to seek help - and to know that recovery is always possible.
The idea of giving back is ubiquitous in the recovery community. In fact, many see the act of helping others with substance use and mental health issues as an essential hallmark of the recovery process. But before a person can start contributing to the recovery of another, they must first find their way to recovery themselves.
For 22 year old Eduardo Tirado, this came relatively early in life. He started drinking at 13, and had been in and out of juvenile hall, jail and a treatment center by the age of 18.
We are pleased to announced that David A. Young, Ph.D., MPH has joined San Mateo County Health as Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, following Stephen Kaplan’s (current Director) retirement on September 30.
David brings more than 30 years of diverse experience in the behavioral health nonprofit and private sector arenas, including most recently as Chief Clinical Officer for Sagesurfer, a behavioral health technology company.
Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, together with San Mateo County Superior Court, District Attorney’s Office, the Private Defender Program and Probation, are currently ramping up to implement a new Driving Under the Influence (DUI) court for second and third time misdemeanor offenders in order to decrease DUI-related traffic accidents, the frequency of repeat offenders and increase public safety. The DUI court will provide this population with a team who can link them to needed treatment and support services which previously, were not provided as a part of the DUI proce
Steve Kaplan, Director of BHRS will retire on September 30. His time with San Mateo County have made a significant impact not only on a local level, but also on a broader level. He managed to accomplished a great deal during his twelve years at the county.
David Lewis was a remarkable man who transformed the recovery community, and East Palo Alto in particular, through his inspiring work with addiction and criminal justice. The San Mateo County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission presents the David Lewis award to individuals who have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of people with substance use disorders and the San Mateo County community.
On September 6 the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission (MHSARC) will be voting to close the public comment period on the final piece of the Three-Year Plan, the Annual Update for Fiscal Year 2015-16 program outcomes.
Suicide is a public health issue that affects all San Mateo County residents. Suicide can have an effect on family members, friends and the community. These effects are often devastating and can last for long periods of time, yet suicide is preventable. With support from the Mental Health Services Act, the San Mateo County Suicide Prevention Committee provides oversight and direction to suicide prevention efforts in San Mateo County.
San Mateo County Community Health Promotion is hosting the Prevention Training Academy, a program that aims to build the capacity of local organizations to conduct substance use primary prevention work. Attendees learn what they can do to prevent substance use issues in San Mateo County communities through environmental strategies.
The Office of Diversity and Equity’s (ODE) mission is to provide services to many of our underserved populations. This year, Parent Project® offered its first summer session since 2014! In collaboration with MidPen Housing in San Mateo, the course was offered in Spanish for the apartment complex residents as well as neighboring community members.
The upcoming Lived Experience 2.0 Peer & Family Action Summit will help San Mateo County’s Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) chart the path towards expanding the role of peers, consumers and family members in the design and delivery of services.
The summit will shape BHRS’s vision of recovery and wellness by providing valuable information which will be then used to create a plan with concrete recommendations to BHRS.
Since February 2017, Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) staff have added gender pronouns to our e-mail signatures and started introducing ourselves in meetings with our gender pronouns.
It is important for us to share our pronouns because we cannot know someone’s pronoun just by knowing their sex or the way a person looks or sounds. And accurately using a person’s pronoun is a basic way to validate and respect one’s gender identity.
San Mateo County’s Safe Medicine Disposal Program has partnered with the Medication Education & Disposal (MED) Project to provide 28 safe medicine disposal kiosks – and counting – throughout San Mateo County. This program is critical in preventing accidental exposure of medicine to children and pets, keeping our oceans and drinking water clean and curbing the nationwide opioid epidemic.
The Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Quality Improvement Committee (BHRS QIC) is seeking new members. BHRS QIC reviews many aspects of BHRS’s work, reviews policies, provides input to management and oversees the quality of BHRS services.
The next couple of months is jam packed with fun events and educational trainings. Check out the listings below and be sure to check the BHRS Meeting and Events Calendar for a complete and up-to-date list of events, meetings and trainings.
San Mateo County will celebrate Recovery Month with a number of fun and informational events throughout September, including a candlelight vigil, a walk of hope and a picnic and resource fair.
Like what you see here in Wellness Matters? Then you’ll love our Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Blog. It’s updated regularly and has everything from the latest BHRS news, events and trainings, to thoughtful articles about behavioral health in San Mateo County and beyond. Stay up to date with the issues that matter to you and your community and follow us today.
