National Mental Health Month emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness, destigmatization and supporting our school communities. This month encourages open conversations, educates communities about mental health issues and advocates for accessible resources to ensure the wellbeing of all, including our students and staff, facing mental health challenges.
Mental Health Awareness Month began in the United States in 1949 and was started by Mental Health America (MHA). Each year in mid-March Mental Health America releases a toolkit of materials to guide preparation for outreach activities during Mental Health Awareness Month. During the month of May, MHA, its affiliates, and other organizations interested in mental health conduct a number of activities which are based on a different theme each year.
RESOURCES
School Counselors for MTSS: Universal Screening for Social/Emotional and Behavioral Needs
Virtual Training
May 2, 2024 | 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
This training provides school counselors with a foundational understanding of the school counseling program (e.g., the ASCA National Model) and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) alignment. This training will be specific to early career school counselors, emerging leaders, and experienced school counselors. Based on cohort needs and knowledge/skill level, the session topics will be differentiated for each group, to allow for deeper dives into the topics and strategies for application. Agreement for both a needs assessment and a knowledge skills self-assessment to differentiate sessions, track growth, and guide action planning is requested.
Goals and Objectives:
- Describe and align comprehensive school counseling practice (CSCP)/SC and MTSS to increase: advocacy to stakeholders; efficiency; systemic change; social justice; equity for students & families
- Site specific action planning
- Understand trauma and its impact and learn strategies to support students and staff experiencing it as well as conduct trauma-informed focused action planning
- Assess current practices and needs
Be Sensitive Be Brave for Mental Health – Virtual Training
May 9, 2024 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Be Sensitive, Be Brave for Mental Health (BSBB: MH) infuses culture and diversity throughout a foundational workshop on mental health and mental health conditions. The workshop prepares community members to help friends and loved ones of all ages during times of distress. Participants will learn how to recognize mental illness, what to do when someone needs support, and tools for maintaining good mental health and preventing mental illness. Diversity considerations are addressed throughout the workshop as we discuss how mental health challenges may look different across cultures.
BSBB Workshop Goals
Learn how to identify when you or someone you know is in mental distress
Practice being sensitive and brave in helping others
Increase awareness of mental health resources
Learn how to prevent mental illness by using a recipe for mental health
Build cultural sensitivity around mental illness
Increase community responsiveness and decrease stigma
Mental Health in Schools Community of Practice – Training
May 13, 2024 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Head Start & Early Learning Building
10100 Pioneer Blvd, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
(Entrance located on west side corner of building facing the parking lot)
We invite Los Angeles County School Social Workers, Counselors, School Psychologists, Administrators, Mental Health Professionals, and support staff to discuss mental health and wellness services for students.
We will review mental health in schools:
Student data and trends
School supports to students
Best Practice Share outs
Mental Health/Mental Wellness Resources
Legislative updates
Identify gaps and needs
LACOE Equity and Wellbeing Conference
May 16-17, 2024
Marriott Long Beach
The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) is pleased to announce its 2024 Equity and Wellbeing Conference. This comprehensive event is being offered in partnership with CalHope, a statewide initiative that provides a single point of access to information and resources designed to reduce the stigma around challenges to mental wellbeing, to build supportive environments, and expand the skills of adults and youth to identify and support young people in need of help.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) – Virtual Training
May 29, 2024 | 8: 30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
June 5, 2024 | 8: 30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help a youth who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.
The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
LA County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH)
Mental Health and School Counseling
Mental Health and Wellness Resources
Promoting Mental Health and Well-being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders
Family Guide to Supporting Young People's Mental Health and Well-being
Family Guide to Supporting Young People's Mental Health and Well-being (Spanish)
Warning Signs of Suicide: A Fact Sheet for Family and Community Members
