On May 3, Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Santa Cruz Works will host Create A Hopeful Future,
a free online event. Learn more here. Register to attend here.

2022 Mental Health Month

Back To Basics: Practical Mental Health Information

While it’s common to talk about ways to maintain our physical health, like regular exercise or a healthy diet, maintaining good mental health is a less discussed topic. Since the start of the pandemic, more and more people are talking about mental health. But mental health conditions, resources, and conversations can still feel complicated and out of reach.

Many people are learning about mental health topics for the first time. A widespread understanding of the topic and available resources can help you be more informed if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health condition or crisis. Almost half of the people in the U.S. (46%) will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life.

Often there is no single cause for a mental health condition. Instead, there are many possible risk factors that can influence how likely a person is to experience a mental health condition or how serious the symptoms may be. Understanding the risk factors for a mental health condition and learning strategies and tools to address them are the first steps towards good mental fitness.

If you are concerned about your mental health, you are not alone – help is out there, and recovery is possible. Several online resources and community workshops are available that can help you understand what you are experiencing.

Mental Health America offers online mental health screenings: a collection of online, free, confidential, anonymous, and scientifically validated screening tools to help individuals understand and learn more about their mental health. These screenings can help you better understand what you are experiencing.

On May 3, Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Santa Cruz Works will host Create A Hopeful Future.  A FREE online event with Kathryn Goetzke. Kathryn is a global mental health ambassador, overcoming her own battles with depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD and addictions through therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and support. Kathryn Goetzke will introduce students (grades 7-12) and educators on how hope is not only a teaching-able skill, but one that impacts all areas of our lives.

Learn more at Create A Hopeful Future.