May is Mental Health Awareness Month and… we asked, you answered. Here are some of the ways our local clubs are promoting Mental Health and Wellness in their clubs and communities. Some key actions include events, social media promotion, and sharing informational resources.
EVENTS
Rotary clubs and District 5150 are hosting two events that are open to the public. We encourage you to attend, and bring along your friends and family:
- May 9 (Kentfield) – “Drew Robinson, a Survivor’s Story of Mental Health, Hope and Recovery.” Former professional baseball player, Drew Robinson, will share his experience as a talented athlete growing up who lived out his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player. As someone who seemed to "have it all", Drew struggled with his self-worth and whether he deserved his success. In 2020, Drew miraculously survived a suicide attempt, resulting in a newfound purpose to advocate for mental health and work to end the stigma surrounding it. RSVP today
- May 10 (Redwood City) - "The Human Brain: A Holistic Approach to Brain Health." This day-long conference will feature top experts and clinicians studying the various aspects of mental health and wellness, including: Gordon McInnaly - Rotary International President and Keynote; Dr. Mehrdad Ayati - Clinical Associate Professor of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University; Dr. Alicia Mikolaycik Gonzalez - Emergency Medicine Physician at Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley, CA; Dr. Lucas White - Doctor of psychiatry and Psychosomatic medicine with Kaiser Permanente; and more! RSVP Today
SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION:
Use the power of social media to raise awareness of resources that are available to people of all ages. By leveraging social media toolkits from some of the nation’s leading mental health organizations, Rotary Clubs can be part of the conversation. Toolkits include graphics and sample captions.
SHARING RESOURCE PROGRAMS:
Partnering with our local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapters, Rotary can help share important resource programs for just about everyone – from youth and adults to family members and veterans. These resources are free.
- NAMI Basics: A six-session education program for parents, caregivers and other family members who provide care for youth (ages 22 and younger) who are experiencing mental health symptoms.
- NAMI Family-to-Family: A free, eight-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions.
- NAMI Family & Friends: A free 90-minute or four-hour seminar that informs people who have loved ones with a mental health condition how to best support them.
- NAMI Homefront: A free, six-session program for families, caregivers and friends of military members and veterans with mental health conditions. Plus, find free online resources available 24/7.
- NAMI In Our Own Voice: Free presentations that provide a personal perspective of mental health conditions, as leaders with lived experience talk openly about what it's like to have a mental health condition.
- NAMI Peer-to-Peer: A free, eight-session educational program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery.
- NAMI Support Groups: NAMI support groups are peer-led and offer participants an opportunity to share their experiences and gain support from other attendees.
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About the Mental Health Matters blog series:
This Rotary year, Rotary International President Gordon McInally has inspired us to think about Creating Hope in the World, and we can do so by ensuring we are practicing caring for ourselves and others this Rotary year. Each month we will take a moment to share a mental health moment to inspire you on how you can practice caring for yourself and others.
In addition, District 5150 has taken a pledge to focus on mental health and has a group of committed Rotarians working towards making a difference in the arena of mental health here in our own district. Check the District Calendar for the next Mental Health Rotarian Action Group meeting or the Men’s Support Group meeting. If you need additional information, please contact Jenny Bates.