Last week was the state wide API (Asian Pacific Islander) Mental Health Empowerment Conference in Oakland. Along with powerful keynotes and educational workshops, the crowd was treated to a buffet of different performances highlighting acrobatics, music and dance from China, India, Vietnam, Tahiti and the Philippines. The diversity of cultures was phenomenal.
PEERS was once again a participant at Art and Soul over the weekend. We set up a booth, listened to the tunes and promoted our programs.
Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services (PEERS) stands with other consumer-run mental health organizations, including the Pool of Consumer Champions (POCC), the California Association of Mental Health Peer-Run Organizations (CAMHPRO), and the Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients (ACNETMHC), in endorsing Senate Bill 906.
This legislation represents a meaningful step toward legitimizing the essential work done by peer support specialists. Mental health consumers deserve access to high-quality, humanizing, and empowering services and resources. California must follow the lead of other states in establishing a statewide peer services certification program.
Recently, PEERS Transition Age Youth Mentee DeAnna Atkins sat on the Youth Panel at the CMHACY conference in Monterey, CA. In particular, she answered the question: "in a perfect world what would wellness look like for you and your peers?"
FREE Day of Prayer Event in Oakland on May 3rd 2018!
Does prayer, spirituality, faith, or belief enhance your personal wellness? Join us for the annual Alameda County Everyone Counts Campaign: National Mental Health Day of Prayer and Celebration!
This free, open, and family-focused event will take place on Thursday, May 3rd, 2018 at the Courtyard in front of the County Administration Building, 1221 Oak St. in Oakland.
Please enjoy FREE art activities, food, performances and speeches. The Reverend Wanda Johnson, Oscar Grant's mother and a renowned community activist, will be speaking at this event!
Enfrentando el Estigma en la Salud Mental - Confronting Mental Health Stigma
Mental health stigma is a significant challenge facing the Latino/a/x American community. Over the past two years, PEERS’ Latino/a/x American Action Team has worked towards addressing this complex and pervasive issue through community outreach and by inaugurating Spanish-language support groups. This program has produced measurable outcomes in terms of reducing internal and external stigma.
El estigma en la salud mental es un reto importante que enfrenta la comunidad Latino/a/x. En pasados dos años el comité de acción Latino/a/x de PEERS ha trabajado para abordar este tema tan complejo y penetrante a través de sus opiniones y también contactaron a la comunidad, inaugurando los grupos de apoyo en español. Este programa ha producido excelentes resultados en términos de reducir el estigma interno y externo.
As part of the ongoing community engagement efforts, the Action Team recently produced a video Public Service Announcement aimed at the Spanish-speaking community of the San Francisco Bay Area. This video features narration and performances from the Action Team members themselves. We encourage you to share this video on social media in order to help reduce mental health stigma for the Latino/a/x American community of the Bay Area.
Como parte de los esfuerzos de la participación de la comunidad, el comité produjo recientemente un video que anuncia este servicio público dirigido a la comunidad de habla hispana de la bahía de San Francisco. Este video cuenta con narración y actuaciones de los propios miembros del equipo de acción. Les animamos a compartir este video en las redes sociales para ayudar a reducir el estigma de la salud mental para la comunidad Latina/a/x área de la bahía.
PEERS confronts mental health stigma by delivering support groups, workshops, and community outreach. We are the premier peer-led mental health alternative for Alameda County residents.
PEERS lucha para frenar el estigma en la salud mental mediante el soporte de grupos de apoyo y ta
PEERS Celebrates Black History Month 2018
On the last day of February, many PEERS staff and community members attended the 2018 ACBHCS and POCC Annual Black History Month Celebration and Training.
PEERS’ own Program Manager Bre Williams presented on African American History 101, taking listeners on a whirlwind tour through hundreds of years of history. Her talk centered on resilience and social, political, and technological innovation by Africans and African Americans alike. Bre is a passionate and respected advocate for ending mental health stigma within the African American Community, especially in Alameda County.
Medication Options: Young People and Mental Health (Part 3 of 3)
PEERS, in collaboration with Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services, has produced a series of three videos for East Bay youth. This series is intended to help young people make informed decisions when they’re prescribed psychiatric medication from health care providers. This is part 3 of 3.
Medication Options: Young People and Mental Health (Part 2 of 3)
PEERS, in collaboration with Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services, has produced a series of three videos for East Bay youth. This series is intended to help young people make informed decisions when they’re prescribed psychiatric medication from health care providers. This is part 2 of 3.
Medication Options: Young People and Mental Health (Part 1 of 3)
PEERS, in collaboration with Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services, has produced a series of three videos for East Bay youth. This series is intended to help young people make informed decisions when they’re prescribed psychiatric medication from health care providers. Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3!
No Stigma No Barriers
Why is youth mental health important? PEERS is part of the NoStigmaNoBarriers collaborative that connects Transition Age Youth to mental health resources. Watch our video here!
WRAP Día de los Muertos Sugar Skulls
Last Friday, PEERS’ WRAP group decorated sugar skulls as part of their weekly meeting. Decorating sugar skulls is a defining feature of Día de los Muertos celebrations. The practice traditionally honors deceased relatives in Mexican culture.
This activity was a collaboration between WRAP and PEERS’ Latino/a/x American Action Team. The Everyone Counts Campaign for 2016-2018 is focused on reducing stigma and providing services to the Bay Area Latino/a/x community.
PEERS at the POCC Latino Power Event
What's better than music and good food? Last night, PEERS took part in the POCC's Latino Power Event at Hayward City Hall. This event promoted mental health in the Latino/a/x community!
Why are you good? #ImGood
I'm Good is a blog campaign that shares stories and wellness tips! Visit www.im-good.com for more info!
Zakiya Saves Suicidal Man on Freeway
Earlier this summer, PEERS Program Assistant Zakiya Johnson saved a suicidal man on a East Bay freeway. That man was Jose.
In honor of Suicide Awareness Prevention Month, Zakiya and Jose agreed to tell their story.
Soul Collaging with PEERS Staff
Looking for a new wellness tool? Soul collaging is a great way to go!
POCC Picnic!
PEERS @ the Alameda County Pool of Consumer Champions picnic in San Leandro!
#WeArePEERS -- Meet Our Participants!
Meet the inspiring participants who make PEERS a unique organization.
Bring Your Kid to Work Day!
How're your dancing skills? Bring Your Kid to Work Day was last Friday at PEERS!
Welcome to PEERS!
How does PEERS support our community? Watch this video to find out!
Free Friday Movies at PEERS!
LEVS and TAY LEVS had their end of year BBQ celebration today! Congrats to our LEVS participants and staff for another highly successful year!
PEERS Transition Age Youth Program
TAY Leadership Mentee DeAnna Atkins and Program Coordinator Ashlee Jemmott discuss the positive impact of PEERS' Transition Age Youth Program.
5 Day WRAP Facilitator Training for Women
PEERS Contractor Aisha Scott talks about the ongoing 5 Day WRAP Facilitator Training for Women.
Interview with Chinese American Action Team Member Jean Lee
Interview with Chinese American Action Team Member Jean Lee
Tobacco Freedom Commencement
Interview with Consumer Movement Organizer Jay Mahler
Interview with Consumer Movement Organizer Jay Mahler
PEERS' BestNow! Intern recently interviewed Consumer Movement organizer Jay Mahler about his life, activism, and the history of the movement. Check out this amazing interview!
What's Your Story? Latino/a/x Action Team Meeting May 3rd, 2017
PEERS' Latino/a/x Action Team met last week to work on story-telling skills, develop materials for an anti-stigma curriculum, and plan for the upcoming 10x10 We Move for Health Event on May 19th.
Today is East Bay Gives!
Today is East Bay Gives! Please consider donating to our Special Messages program. Don't know why Special Messages is important?? Watch this video! www.eastbaygives.org/peers
East Bay Gives on May 4th -- Donate to Special Messages!
In the very near future, PEERS will be participating in an online fundraiser called East Bay Gives—a one day community giving event that takes place on May 4th, 2017.
www.eastbaygives.org/peers
This year, we are hoping to raise $1000 for our Special Messages program.
Currently Special Messages is run on shoestring budget by talented staff who volunteer their time and expertise.
Please consider donating to this very important cause!
PEERS is a mental health consumer-run organization that specializes in mental health and wellness training, programs and services, and media projects.
