May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Emily Morales, Psy.D., LMFT, Diversity Chair • April 23, 2025

Hello SGVPA Folx,

It's that time of the year again!! National Mental Health Awareness Month. Dust off those green ribbons and represent!

This is the time of the year for all of us to renew our toolkits, spreading awareness to help break the stigma, and overall advocacy for the mental health needs of our community. I get pumped for all the fairs, the awareness walks, and collaboration with fellow mental health practitioners. Taking it out to the community in person or virtually this month is a salute to those in the mental health helping field, all those who have survived mental health distress, and for those who are still struggling with the impact of mental health distress.

A Call To Action Message From NAMI

"This May, take action, raise your voice, and help change the conversation around mental health! Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a driving force in addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Now, more than ever, National Awareness of Mental Illness (NAMI) needs you to be part of this movement. Whether by sharing your story, spreading awareness, or advocating for change, every action helps break the stigma and build a more supportive world for all."

View NAMI Website

Together We Can Join Arms to End the Stigma

Together we can continue providing awareness and resources for all those in need within our community, people in our virtual community, advocacy with family and friends, and networking with each other to keep us all together in solidarity.

Links:

https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month/

https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/mental-health-awareness-month

https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month/

https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/importance-mental-health-awareness-month

https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/prevention-week

Ways to find support:

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support

https://www.nami.org/

https://mhanational.org/

https://www.calhope.org/

https://www.211.org/

https://www.1degree.org/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health

Share

Mail

Latest Blog Posts

82 Years Ago - Zoot Suit Riot

By Emily Morales, Psy.D., LMFT, Diversity Chair • June 11, 2025

Hello SGVPA Folx, June 3-8th, 1943 marks the 82nd year anniversary of the Zoot Suit Riots. Very reminiscent to the anti-immigrant rhetoric and racial tension in Los Angeles today. With the current political climate, ICE raids, National Guard being deployed, Marine's being deployed, and people being unlawfully detained I felt that it was urgent to point to a historical parallel. The police, servicemen, and anti-immigrant xenophobic propaganda boiled over and targeted Mexican American, African American, and Filipino American zoot suiters. There were non-zoot suiters that were targeted during these racial riots. To learn more check out the Huntington Archives on the zoot suit riots. The Huntington Archives . Check out an original Zoot Suit at the LACMA .

June is Pride Month

By Emily Morales, Psy.D., LMFT, Diversity Chair • June 10, 2025

Hello SGVPA Folx, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month. Let's show support to our LGBTQ2SIA+ Community Members! This is the month to show your pride and allyship to our SGV LGBTQ2SIA+ community. The month of June was selected for PRIDE month in honor of the June 28, 1969 Stonewall Uprising. For more information on the history of LGBTQ2SIA+ pride month please check out the Library of Congress . Visibility of "The Second Largest Minority," Library of Congress Article , was built on the backs of social activists in the queer community. The suffering and pride of our queer community has led to some of the greatest grassroots changes that have shifted the narrative of the queer community. Stand up against stigma, erasure, and marginalization by checking out some resources, advocating, and being an affirming therapist.

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

By Emily Morales, Psy.D., LMFT, Diversity Chair • June 6, 2025

Hello SGVPA Folx, May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month Belated greetings and celebratory wishes to our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander community. There was a learning curve for our new website and I am so excited to get our diversity blog posts. This post will be resources for the AANHPI community and historical background. In 1992, congress designated May as the Asian/Pacific American Heritage month. May was selected in honor of the first Japanese people who emigrated to the United States in 1843. As a Californian I acknowledge the history of Manzanar. There were ten war relocation centers in other states but one held here in California. To learn more about the displaced Japanese American families please click on the URL provided More on Manzanar