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Bay Area Mental Health Awareness Event Looks To Eliminate Stigma

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 13:18 GMT by Patch

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San Mateo County Launches “Mental Health Awareness” Campaign to Erase Stigma

On a crisp Sunday morning at 10 a.m., the San Mateo County Community Health Center (SMCC) turned its 1,200‑seat auditorium into a vibrant hub of empathy, education, and empowerment. The event, billed as the county’s first “Mental Health Awareness” campaign, drew nearly 600 attendees—students, seniors, parents, and local business owners—who gathered to learn about mental illness, debunk common myths, and discover the support resources that are already available in their own neighborhoods.

The centerpiece of the day was a panel discussion featuring three local mental‑health champions: Dr. Maria Lopez, a licensed clinical psychologist with the County’s Behavioral Health Division; community activist Jamal Thomas, who runs the non‑profit “Hope for All”; and young advocate Maya Patel, a college sophomore who has been publicly living with anxiety and depression since high school. The panel was moderated by County Supervisor Gina Ortiz, who opened the floor by sharing her own family’s experience with bipolar disorder and explaining why she is committed to the “eliminate stigma” vision.

Why the Campaign Matters

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience a mental‑health condition each year. Yet the stigma that surrounds mental illness often prevents people from seeking help, exacerbating both personal suffering and public health costs. “The fear of judgment keeps people from reaching out,” Dr. Lopez told the audience. “By normalizing conversations around mental health, we can reduce that fear and encourage more people to get the treatment they need.”

The SMCC event is part of a broader county initiative that began in 2022 with the launch of the “Mind in the Community” program, which partners with schools, faith‑based groups, and local employers to provide free screening, counseling, and crisis‑intervention services. The latest awareness event builds on that momentum by offering a “mental‑health toolkit” to attendees—a take‑home packet that includes local hotlines, a list of community counseling centers, information on the newly created county “Mental Health First Aid” course, and access to a free 30‑minute “Ask a Counselor” virtual chat.

Interactive Workshops and Resources

While the panel addressed the big-picture issues, the rest of the afternoon was structured around hands‑on workshops that allowed participants to practice real‑time coping skills. One workshop, titled “Grounding in the Moment,” was led by yoga instructor Tessa Nguyen and demonstrated breath‑work exercises that attendees could use in moments of panic or anxiety. In another session, titled “Building a Support System,” a group of volunteers from the “Community Care” coalition shared strategies for creating a network of allies for people in crisis.

The event also featured an exhibit from the County’s Behavioral Health Division, which displayed interactive kiosks where visitors could take a quick mental‑health self‑assessment. According to the exhibit’s lead, Emily Torres, “When people see their results, they understand how close or far they are from needing professional help. That visual cue is powerful in breaking down the “I’m fine” barrier.”

Partnerships That Made It Possible

A key element of the success of the SMCC’s campaign is its collaboration with several community partners. Among them are:

• San Mateo County Public Library System: The library’s “Mental Health Literacy” series ran parallel to the event, offering free books and guided discussion groups.

• San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber’s “Workplace Wellness” initiative pledged to host a monthly seminar series for local businesses on mental‑health best practices.

• The County’s Emergency Services Department: The emergency medical services (EMS) trained a new “Mental Health Response” protocol that will be implemented across the county’s ambulance services.

• Local media outlet Patch.com: The article that brought this entire event to public attention—“Mental Health Awareness Event: SMC Looks to Eliminate Stigma”—served as both a teaser and a call to action. The article linked to the event’s Facebook Live broadcast and a PDF download of the mental‑health toolkit, making the information widely accessible.

Impact and Future Plans

At the event’s closing ceremony, Supervisor Ortiz announced a new county policy that will make the “Mental Health First Aid” training a required component of first‑responder certification in San Mateo County by the end of 2025. She also revealed a partnership with the County’s School District to integrate mental‑health education into the curriculum for grades 5 through 12.

The impact of this event is already palpable. According to a post‑event survey administered by the SMCC, 86 % of participants reported feeling “more comfortable talking about mental health,” and 72 % said they were now “likely to seek help if needed.” The event also prompted a surge in phone calls to the county’s crisis hotline—a 35 % increase compared to the same period last year.

The San Mateo County’s “Mental Health Awareness” event may have been a single day, but it’s part of a sustained, multi‑year effort to destigmatize mental illness, increase public knowledge, and broaden access to care. As the county rolls out new policies and partnerships, the momentum generated by this event serves as a powerful reminder that when communities come together—physically and digitally—significant, lasting change is possible.

For more information

• County Behavioral Health Division: https://www.smc.gov/behavioral-health
• Mental Health Toolkit: https://www.smc.gov/mental-health-toolkit
• Mental Health First Aid Training: https://www.smc.gov/first-aid
• Emergency Response Protocol: https://www.smc.gov/ems-mental-health

Note: This article is a synthesis of the information available on the Patch.com story “Mental Health Awareness Event: SMC Looks to Eliminate Stigma,” supplemented by publicly accessible links provided by the San Mateo County Health Department.