Every day, millions of people experience stigma related to mental illness, causing many to face their mental health challenges for years without help. Each May, Mental Health Matters Month provides the opportunity for everyone to come together to illuminate mental health awareness in an effort to stop the stigma. Bringing forth this awareness is crucial to helping people reach out for the assistance they deserve. Throughout the month, individuals, families, organizations, and communities join together to show their support and bring awareness to the topic of mental health by engaging in a range of activities, from sharing on social media to hosting events that are virtual or follow local health guidelines.

This year, we have a special focus on sharing what you can do to take action to support your mental health, the mental health of people you care about and our communities in Claremont, La Verne, and Pomona. Join us in California's mental health campaign, Take Action for Mental Health, an evolution of the statewide Each Mind Matters movement. This is a way to commit to ourselves and to the people around us that mental health is a priority and that we will do what we can to support each other.

 
The Take Action for Mental Health Pledge says:

• • • I Pledge to Take Action for Mental Health
    • I will Check In with myself to identify mental health needs.
    • I will Learn More about mental health.
    • I will Get Support for my own mental health and support the mental health of others.
    • I will share this pledge with others to help them take action too!

You can download the pledge and find more resources to help you Check In, Learn More, and Get Support on the Take Action for Mental Health website. You can also follow us on social media to stay informed throughout the month of May @TriCityMHS!

We stand ready to take action. Let’s Check In, Learn More, and Get Support for our individual and collective mental health in our Tri-City community.

Show Your Support

Support May Mental Health Awareness Month by participating in the various virtual activities, workshops, and social media challenges Tri-City will be providing all month long.

View the activity guides from the Take Action for Mental Health Toolkit and download our video conferencing backgrounds. Throuhout the month, follow us on Instagram and other social media platforms @TriCityMHS and share your support with our hashtag #TriCityTakesAction4MH. We hope you will join us in raising awareness and making a positive impact on reducing mental health stigma.

For more information about Room4Everyone and how to join the mental health movement, visit our Stigma Reduction page.

Get Involved

Download our May Mental Health Awareness Month Calendar to discover different ways you can participate this month! Throughout May, Tri-City Mental Health is hosting different activities and challenges everyone can participate in to support Mental Health Awareness Month.

Week 1 | May 1-7

SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK FOR CREATIVE MINDS! Deadline to submit is Wednesday, May 18 at 11:59 pm. Click here to download the artist submission application. Instructions on how to submit is included in the artist submission application. Please e-mail Brittany at bnguyen@tricitymhs.org with any questions or concerns.

• • • • Self-Care Challenge of the Week #1
        Take a nature walk. Follow us on Instagram @TriCityMHS and tell us on the Self Care Challenge of the Week #1 Post where did you take your nature walk at! Or take a photo of your nature walk, tag us @TriCityMHS to be featured and use our hashtag #TriCityTakesAction4MH to show your support!
        
      • Tuesday, May 3 at 9-10:30 am
        Mes de Concientización Sobre la Salud Mental Con Promotores/Mental Health Awareness Month With Community Health Workers
        Salud Mental y Estigma: Cambiando la Historia / Mental Health & Stigma: Changing the Story
        Le invitamos a unirse a nosotros juntos con nuestros trabajadores comunitarios de salud para explorar temas comunitarios de salud mental y maneras de promover una saludmental positiva y mejorar la calidad general del bienestar – con compasión por las comunidades a las que servimos. We invite you to join us along with our local Community Health Workers to explore community mental health topics and ways to promote positive mental health and improve overall quality of wellbeing – with compassion for the communities we serve.
        
      • Wednesday, May 4 at 10-11 am
        Rompiendo Barreras De Salud Mental
        En celebracion del Mes de la Salud Mental, te invitamos a particitar en un taller gratis para la communidad por la comunidad. Únase con nosotros para una platica sobre las sellales de trastornos de la salud mental.
      • Wednesday, May 4 at 10-11 am
        Everyday Mental Health Training
        Join us virtually as we take a moment to explore different aspects of mental health in our daily lives and in our community.    

Week 2 | May 8-14

• • • • • Self-Care Challenge of the Week #2:
          Listen to music. Follow us on Instagram @TriCityMHS and tell us on the Self Care Challenge of the Week #2 Post your favorite artist/music genre! Or take a photo of your favorite playlist or artist, tag us @TriCityMHS to be featured and use our hashtag #TriCityTakesAction4MH to show your support!
        • Tuesday, May 10 at 9-10:30 am
          Mes de Concientización Sobre la Salud Mental Con Promotores /Mental Health Awareness Month With Community Health Workers
          Depresión (Conciencia, Tratamiento y Recuperación)
          Depression (Awareness, Treatment and Recovery)
          
        • Wednesday, May 11 at 1-3 pm
          ACEs Aware Supplemental Training for Community Providers
          This free training, provided through the statewide ACEs Aware supplemental training grant, will delve into how we each play a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of children, adults, families and communities. We will share self-care information, strategies and resources to prevent and address the impact of ACEs and toxic stress and unlock the potential of the next generation.
        • Saturday, May 14 at 4-8 pm
          Community Healing Open Mic Event
          Through creative expression emotions are moved out of the body and into a communal space where they can be seen, heard, validated, and felt.  All are welcome to sign up and share your creative voice with the community.

Week 3 | May 15-21

• • • • • Self-Care Challenge of the Week #3
          Laugh out loud. Follow us on Instagram @TriCityMHS and tell us on the Self Care Challenge of the Week #3 Post what/who makes you laugh! Or share us your favorite meme/gif, tag us @TriCityMHS to be featured and use our hashtag #TriCityTakesAction4MH to show your support!
        • Tuesday, May 17 at 9-10:30 am
          Mes de Concientización Sobre la Salud Mental Con Promotores /Mental Health Awareness Month With Community Health Workers
          Ansiedad (Conciencia, Tratamiento y Recuperación)
          Anxiety (Awareness, Treatment and Recovery)
          
        • Thursday, May 19 at 3:30-4:30 pm
          Virtual Listening Circle with Just Us 4 Youth
          Come join us in a peer-to-peer led discussion with our youth leaders to discuss self-care, suicide prevention and community care.
          
        • Friday, May 20 at 2-4 pm
          Unfiltered: Cyberyouth Manifesto
          A virtual cyber-revolution workshop for youth ages 14-18. Participants will share, explore, co-process, alchemize, and transform past and ongoing experiences with digital social media landscapes. 
        • Saturday, May 21 at 1-4 pm
          Here and Queer: Community Resource Fair.
          Gente’s queer youth-led social action group presents Here & Queer. HQ is a youth-led resource fair for and by queer youth and parents to support the health and wellbeing of queer and trans people in Pomona. The event will feature live music, free food and local QTPOC vendors.

Week 4 | May 22-28

• • • • • Self-Care Challenge of the Week #4
          Express gratitude. Follow us on Instagram @TriCityMHS and tell us on the Self Care Challenge of the Week #4 Post what you’re grateful for! Or share us gratitude list, tag us @TriCityMHS to be featured and use our hashtag #TriCityTakesAction4MH to show your support!
        • Tuesday, May 24 at 6 pm
          Directing Change Contest Student Film Screening
          1111 N Mountain Claremont, CA 91711
          Come join us in person at Claremont Presbyterian Church to watch short mental health films directed by youth from the Directing Change program. Directing Change is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students.
        • Wednesday, May 25 at 5:30-6:30 pm
          Creative Minds Art Gallery Showcase
          Come join us virtually to celebrate and honor all of the artists who submitted their creative artwork with this year’s theme: Take Action for Mental Health. Register at http://bit.ly/3kcHcxd.
          
        • Friday, May 27 at 3:30 pm
          Tri-City Wellness Center Talent Show
          Come join us virtually to view all the amazing talent being showcased for a fun night! To participate in the talent show (to perform or watch), please contact the Wellness Center at (909) 242-7600 or wellness@tricitymhs.org to sign-up. We would need the following information: name, phone number, address, and email. Once you sign up, you will receive the meeting link on the day of the talent show.
          
        • Saturday, May 28 at Noon - 4 pm
          Creating Our Next LA at the Walk the Talk
          The Creating Our Next LA art activation celebrates the lives and stories of those living in Skid Row and is open to all County residents. Walk the Talk brings Skid Row to life with performances along the parade route that pay tribute to neighborhood initiatives and the people whose contributions to the community call for a big, blaring celebration!

Week 5| May 29-30

• • • • • Self-Care Challenge of the Week #5
          Call/Text a loved one. Follow us on Instagram @TriCityMHS and tell us on the Self Care Challenge of the Week #4 Post who you called/texted! Or share us how it made you feel to be connected to your loved one, tag us @TriCityMHS to be featured and use our hashtag #TriCityTakesAction4MH to show your support!
        • Tuesday, May 31
          Wear Green to show your support in the mental health movement!
          Use our hashtags #TriCityTakesAction4MH and tag us on Instagram to be featured!