A Note from Wayne Clark

Just as mental health advocates were joining together for Mental Health Awareness Week, the events at Umpqua Community College in Oregon reminded us how our efforts to bust the stigma associated with mental illness are critical. CalMHSA and our program partners responded promptly to educate Californians about mental health and speak out against false assumptions that perpetuate stigma and discrimination, preventing individuals from seeking help. You, too, can be a part of this movement for understanding and inclusion. Visit EachMindMatters.org to make a personal commitment to learn more, speak up, and reach out to ensure our loved ones, colleagues, and classmates know help for mental health challenges is effective and available.

Students "Send Silence Packing"

A powerful exhibit meant to spark a positive dialogue about mental health on college campuses is touring California campuses thanks to CalMHSA program partner Active Minds. The Active Minds’ program, Send Silence Packing, is a traveling public exhibit of 1,100 backpacks, representing the number of college students who die by suicide each year. Read more:

Contact: Candace Daniels at candace@activeminds.org or (202) 332-9595.

Honoring Suicide Prevention Week

This past September, CalMHSA joined partners across California to observe Suicide Prevention Week, raise awareness about suicide prevention, and highlight California’s efforts to prevent suicide. Among the voices calling for awareness were:

CalMHSA Board President Maureen Bauman penned this Auburn Journal piece about Placer County’s efforts to prevent suicide in the community.
Know the Signs’ Stan Collins shared his perspective on taking signs of suicide seriously in the Mountain Grove News Journal.

It is important to keep the momentum of Suicide Prevention Week alive long after September. Visit the Know the Signs campaign to learn how individuals and communities across California can support those at risk for suicide, and visit the Each Mind Matters store to order Campaign materials to disseminate throughout your community. Contact: Theresa Ly at Theresa.Ly@calmhsa.org.

New Resources for Storytelling

Each Mind Matters launched a “how-to” series to help individuals learn more about California’s Mental Health Movement and how each of us has a role to play. The videos include What is Each Mind Matters?; How to Start a Conversation; and Use Social Media for Awareness. Contact: Kate Calderazzo at kcalderazzo@rs-e.com.
The Carter Center released a new media guide for reporters who cover behavioral health to empower more journalists to increase the coverage and quality of behavioral health issues with clear guidelines for accuracy and fairness. Contact: Rennie Sloan at rennie.sloan@cartercenter.org.

What is Each Mind Matters?

RAND Report: Sustain PEI Programs

The RAND Corporation released a Research Highlight, California’s Statewide Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives Show Promising Early Results, But Sustained Investment Is Needed, that summarizes some of the key current findings for CalMHSA’s Statewide Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) programs. The Research Highlight is designed to be a useful tool for mental health advocates, county and legislative staff and other stakeholders. Contact: Nicole Eberhart at eberhart@rand.org.

Youth Invited to Direct Change

The Fourth Annual Directing Change Program & Film Contest offers young people the exciting opportunity to participate in California’s mental health movement by creating 60-second films about suicide prevention, mental health and mental health awareness in different cultures. Films must be submitted by March 1^st, 2016. Visit Directing Change for eligibility information and to see past years’ winning films. Volunteer to judge this year’s films. Contact: Jana Sczersputowski at jana@yoursoscialmarketer.com.

Active Minds Holds National Mental Health on Campus Conference

Who: Active Minds invites students, faculty, experts, change-agents and leaders
What: The Active Minds National Mental Health on Campus Conference (#MHCC15). Learn more here. Early bird registration and discount is available until October 13^th, 2015. Registration closes November 6^th, 2015.
When: November 13^th, 2015 – November 15^th, 2015
Where: The University of California, Irvine
Contact: Active Minds at conference@activeminds.org.

For more information on Each Mind Matters, sign up for the Each Mind Matters Newsletter.

Have news to share? Send submissions to Jenna Thompson at Jenna@paschalroth.com.

CalMHSA is a partnership of California counties working together to prevent mental illness and promote mental health by implementing Prevention and Early Intervention programs that are a critical part of the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63).

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