WeHo recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month

The City of West Hollywood joins organizations and mental health advocates across the country in recognizing the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to work together to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support the millions of people living with mental illness and their families.

In commemoration of the month, from Wednesday May 17, 2023 through Tuesday, May 30, 2023, West Hollywood City Hall will be lit green, the color of recognition for mental health awareness month. The City will also participate in Mental Health Action Day on Thursday, May 18, 2023 by sharing #mentalhealthactionday messaging on the City’s @wehocity social media.

            Mental Health Awareness Month began in the United States in 1949 and was started by Mental Health America (MHA). Mental illness affects more than 50 million people in the United States. According to the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental health condition each year. Annually, mental illness affects all populations. The impacts of mental health challenges are significant among youth; one in six U.S. youth experience a mental health condition each year, and only half of them receive treatment. Approximately 50% of LGBTQ adults are impacted by mental health challenges.

            Mental Health Action Day was founded to shift mental health culture from awareness to action. Now in its third year, this movement is powered by a growing coalition of more than 1,750 nonprofits, brands, government agencies, and influential leaders from more than 32 countries that spread the message that, just like our physical health, we can take actions to improve our mental health.  For more information about how to participate in Mental Health Action Day go to www.mentalhealthaction.network.org.

If you or anyone you know needs mental health support there are resources to help:

·       988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis connect to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 by calling or texting 988 or go to www.988lifeline.org

• Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) directly operates more than 80 programs and contracts with more than 700 providers who provide a spectrum of mental health services to people of all ages by contacting the 24/7 Help Line at  (800)854-7771, by texting  “LA” to 741741 any time to be connected to a crisis counselor via text message, or go to https://dmh.lacounty.gov/resources/.

·       APLA Health – West Hollywood provides individual and group therapy sessions to assist with a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma, as well as TeleHealth therapy sessions by contacting (213) 201-1369 or go to www.aplahealth.org.

·       Being Alive provides no-cost mental health therapy, comprehensive emotional support groups, treatment education, prevention, advocacy, acupuncture for clients living with HIV by contacting (323) 874-4322 or go to www.beingalivela.org.

• Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services provides counseling, psychiatric services, medication support and substance abuse programs at various sites by contacting the 24/7 Crisis Line: (800) 273-8255 or (888) 807-7259 or go to www.didihirsch.org.
• Jewish Family Services – West Hollywood Comprehensive Service Center provides social services programming for seniors and people with disabilities that includes counseling, psychiatry, and case management by contacting www.jfsla.org.

• Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Mental Health Services provides counseling, group support, addiction recovery, and psychiatry services for LGBT and non-LGBT individuals for issues including depression, anxiety, relationships, and substance abuse by contacting (323) 993-7669 or go to www.lalgbtcenter.org.

• Saban Community Clinic provides individual therapy and support groups for stress, anxiety, and more to help develop practical coping skills by contacting (323) 653-1990 or go to www.sabancommunityclinic.org.
• Trans Lifeline provides a 24/7 grassroots hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community by contacting (877) 565-8860 or go to https://translifeline.org.
• The Trevor Project provides confidential and free crisis counseling, information & support to LGBTQ young people 24/7, all year round by contacting (866) 488-7386, by texting 678-678, or via online chat at www.thetrevorproject.org.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides free education, support, and advocacy to help build better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. The NAMI Westside Los Angeles chapter can be reached by contacting (310) 889-7200 or go to www.namiwla.org.

·       The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) website at https://ncadv.org offers comprehensive and inclusive information for all about warning signs of domestic and intimate partner violence and abuse, including psychological/mental abuse, and how to get help. NCADV runs the National Domestic Violence Hotline website at www.thehotline.org which offers immediate help to everyone 24/7/365 via the “chat now” button on the website or by calling (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or texting LOVEIS to 22522, and for people who are Deaf/hard of hearing: (855) 812-1011 (VP) or (800)-787-3224 (TTY).

The City of West Hollywood’s Social Services Division website area provides information about available local mental health services and resources at www.weho.org/services/social-services/mental-health or contact staff at (323) 848-6510.

The City of West Hollywood’s Recreation Services Division provides information about quality leisure service experiences that promote health and wellness at www.weho.org/community/recreation-services including the City’s “be Well WeHo” program designed to support physical and mental health at any age.

For additional information about the City’s recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, please contact Larissa Fooks, the City of West Hollywood’s Community Programs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6413 or lfooks@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.