Upcoming Events 2024:

Journey of Hope

Join us for the annual Journey of Hope, a mental health forum featuring keynote speaker, Livi Redden. Redden is an acclaimed mentor to teens and young adults. She is an author, TEDx speaker with 1M+ views, and her mission is to equip the next generation with the tools to be happy and resilient. This year's forum offers live music by Cate Armstrong, a community resource fair, therapy dogs, food trucks, and wellness related crafting booths. 

• Saturday, Sept. 14th 12–4 PM, Avila Beach Golf Resort, 6464 Ana Bay Road Avila Beach, CA 93424

Board of Supervisors Proclamation

September 24th, 2024, County of San Luis Behavioral Health Department, Transitions-Mental Health Association, and the Suicide Prevention Council of SLO County will present to the County Board of Supervisors a resolution proclaiming September as “National Suicide Prevention Month” in San Luis Obispo County. National Suicide Prevention Month is commemorated each year during the month of September, with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, a moment in time in which we rally the public to create awareness of this leading cause of death and inspire more and more people to learn how they can play a role in their communities in helping to save lives. This month provides an opportunity for people to remember those whose lives have been lost to suicide, and to act together to end the stigma.

Suicide Prevention Summit

This full day of suicide prevention workshops and featured speakers will provide attendees with current information related to suicide prevention, postvention, community advocacy, promising practices in medical settings, and feature voices of lived experience. The keynote Speaker is Kevin Hines, who is a Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Activist, Best-Selling Author, Multi-Award-Winning Filmmaker & Subject Matter Expert. Hines will share his powerful story of surviving a suicide attempt and moving forward on a path of community advocacy and successful lobbying for a safety barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge. Dr. Frank Campbell will describe the Active Postvention Model, known as the LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Survivors of Suicide), for shortening the elapsed time between death and finding help by the developer.  This concept of postvention as prevention has governed Dr. Campbell’s work with survivors of suicide since 1986. It has been his personal goal to interrupt the multigenerational impact of risk that survivors are often reported to have as a legacy following a suicide. Featured panelists will discuss strategies for integrating mental health and suicide prevention screening into a variety of medical practice settings. The afternoon will highlight the voices of lived experience as loss survivors' detail how personal loss led to a path of advocacy and action. Course meets the qualifications for continuing education credit for LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

• Friday, September 27th, 2024, 8:30-4:30pm, training is virtual

  • Register for the event here.

NAMI Beautiful Minds Walk

NAMI SLO County is holding their first Beautiful Minds Walk since the pandemic shutdown. This celebration will be held at Laguna Middle School in San Luis Obispo as an effort to heighten awareness of mental illness, along with the resources available to help those impacted. Emcee of the event is County Behavioral Health Deputy Director, Frank Warren, with guest speaker SLO Sheriff Sergeant, Ron Slaughter, Crisis Intervention Training Coordinator.

• Saturday, September 28, 2024, 9 AM-12 PM, Laguna Middle School, 11050 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405

Senate Bill 43 Training

California Senate Bill 43 (SB 43) is a new law that has transformed definitions and requirements of involuntary detention/holds (5150) and conservatorship laws, adding language to also now include care for individuals with severe substance use disorders (SUDs).

These trainings will offer a comprehensive understanding of the expanded criteria for 5150 holds, including the recognition and diagnosis of severe SUDs and their intersection with psychiatric conditions. You will hear case studies and real-world examples from San Luis Obispo, hear how these legislative changes are being implemented in practice, and what challenges and opportunities the new law presents. 2 Continuing Education Hours are being offered for free for BBS & BRN licenses.

• Wednesday, October 2nd, 6PM-8PM, training is virtual 
  • Register for the training here. 

Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA)  Survivors of Suicide Attempt Support Group

A support group for survivors of suicide attempt. This group allows a safe space for individuals to feel connected and heard by others with similar experiences. Learn new coping skills and create hope for the future. Meetings are held Mondays from 5:30pm-6:30pm. 

For more information and to register, email Chi Lao, [email protected] or Griffin Spaulding, [email protected].