Join Beach Cities Health District for Mental Health Awareness Month in May!
Interested in partnering with BCHD for Mental Health Awareness Month? Click here.
Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being. It includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being, affecting how we think, feel and act (Source: CDC). It enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn and work well and contribute to their community (Source: World Health Organization). We all have mental health and need to take care of it just like how we take care of our physical health.
Both mental health and physical health are connected and contribute to our overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many physical health problems like diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness. It’s important to note that mental health and mental illness are not the same. A person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness, and a person can have good mental health and be diagnosed with a mental illness (Source: CDC).
The “Mental Health is Health” community-wide campaign aims to decrease stigma, increase help seeking behaviors, increase awareness of and access to resources for mental health, and build community capacity to support individuals who need mental health resources.
- People may have negative feelings and attitudes towards mental health. This can make it hard for people to talk about their mental health challenges and seek help. By talking about mental health in the same way and frequency that we talk about physical health, we can help normalize its conversation. We not only want to create a space where it’s okay to talk about mental health, but also encourage it. By talking about mental health, we can decrease the stigma and discrimination around it while empowering others to also talk about it.
- Parents, for tips to talk about it, whatever it may be – mental health, vaping, empathy – visit bchd.org/talk.
- While it’s important to seek resources and professional help, it’s also important to practice self-care and seek other strategies to help us maintain good mental health. In fact, some of the same self-care strategies we use to maintain our physical health like exercise and healthy eating, can also impact our mental health. It’s important to focus on these preventive actions that support your mental health before you feel overwhelmed.
- Exercise: Join the Center for Health & Fitness, it’s all here, in the most comprehensive fitness center in the South Bay! State-of-the-art fitness center, yoga, Pilates, weight management and staff dietitian are just some of what’s offered at the Center for Health and Fitness. Whether you’re devoted to exercise, just getting started, or have special needs, the fitness experts here will design a program just right for you.
- Eat well: Learn how foods fuel your body. Click here for nutrition guides and recipes. Eating out or doing takeout? Visit a local Blue Zones Project Approved Restaurant for healthy options.
- Practice mindfulness: Add a mindfulness practice to your daily schedule. Click here for a playlist of guided exercises.
- Give back to your community: Volunteer with BCHD and have an integral role in improving the health and well-being of Beach Cities residents – help the community while improving your own well-being! Learn more here.
- For health-related resources and information for adults and families within the South Bay and Greater Los Angeles area call BCHD’s Assistance, Information and Referral Line, (310) 374-3426 and press option 1, Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visit us at bchd.org/resources for a wide range of resources including youth, older adult and legal and financial support.
- allcove Beach Cities is a place for young people (ages 12-25) to take a moment of pause and access a range of services: mental health, physical health, supported education and employment, substance use, peer and family support, life skills and wellness, and community. Learn more here.
- If you are experiencing a serious or life-threatening concern, please call 9-1-1. If your concern is not life-threatening, support is also available by contacting the 24/7 providers listed below:
- Text “LA” to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line
- Call 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- Call 1-866-488-7386 to reach The Trevor Project for crisis intervention services specific for LGBTQ+ youth
- Call 1-877-541-2525 to reach the Community Helpline for non-emergency support
Community Partners
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