Mental Health Association of San Francisco

Five years ago, the world lost the beloved Aaron Alcorn to suicide. Aaron was admired for his fun-loving spirit, warmth, humor, and his inclusiveness — his constant desire to get a group of friends together for a good time. To honor his life and celebrate his birthday, Aaron's friends invite you to gather in Golden Gate Park, play some corn hole, have some refreshments, and connect on Saturday (10.26 from 1-5 PM) at Marx Meadow in Golden Gate Park. MHASF looks forward to continuing a tradition this community has proactively kick-started, centering friendship around a heartfelt appreciation of mental health recovery, vulnerability, and, of course, bean bag toss. Ticket Link in Bio 🔗 #CommunityEvent #beanbagtoss #mentalhealthrecovery

Self-determination is an important value for The California Peer Run Warm Line. We know that each person is the expert in what they need, and we never want to re-enact the kind of power and authority that others may have tried to exert over us as peers. We respect each person’s inner wisdom and acknowledge the unique ways they approach their wellness. We are here to support, and each person determines what support looks like to them. MHASF's Peer Run Warm Line is here for you 24/7. Call or Text 855-600-WARM (9276) to speak with a counselor. #peer #warmline #mentalhealth #peersupport

“We really try to keep an open ear for anyone who's experiencing anything” Join us in learning more about what the Warm Line is, what we are about and how we offer support. This video was taken from our IG Live focusing on World Suicide Prevention Day. Creating space for difficult conversations can be part of supporting people when they need it most. #peersupport #warmline #liverecap

MHASF went to the 12th Annual Reentry and Job Fair, and our staff member Alexis shared their journey of the day. Join us in learning about some of the resources provided at the fair, what it’s all about, and what we brought to offer the community! #communityevents #peersupport #reentry

The peer movement—and the resulting peer support services—are rooted in advocacy, The California Peer Run Warm Line is no different. The peer movement began as psychiatric survivors creating groups and advocating for change. This ultimately lead to the creation of new services that support our communities which are self-directed, low-barrier, and effective. Every time a person utilizes peer services, it is a form of advocacy. Every time a person brings up mental health in a community space, it is a show of advocacy. Every time someone sticks up for themselves, it is advocacy. We support our community in advocating for themselves, in choosing wellness as they need it, and in the way that best fits them. Every person is the expert in their own experience! MHASF's Peer Run Warm Line is here for you 24/7. Call or Text 855-600-WARM (9276) to speak with a counselor. Check out our link bio to find resources on advocacy related to the Warm Line, and more MHASF Peer Services #peer #warmline #mentalhealth #peersupport

For World Suicide Prevention Day, we sat down with Felipe and Brittany from the California Peer Run Warm Line to talk about the importance of having open conversations about suicide. Talking about it, putting a name to it, and being upfront can help others feel they are not alone and have a space to talk. MHASF's Peer Run Warm Line is here for you 24/7. Call or Text 855-600-WARM (9276) to speak with a counselor. #mentalhealth #peersupport

Want to become a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist? APPT is the training for you! MHASF is proud to offer the Advanced Peer Professional Training (APPT), an online, 80-hour course approved by CalMHSA and DHCS. In this course you will learn how to channel your lived experience to help others while learning about the required core competencies outlined by DHCS. 💪🏽95% of APPT attendees receive a certificate of completion and become eligible for state certification 💪🏽63% of APPT graduates landed new positions or advanced in their current role. If you’ve ever wanted to become a peer support specialist, are considering a career shift, or are wanting to advance your peer support career by becoming a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, visit our website at https://lnkd.in/gnYSG_cG or visit our link in our bio for more info. #peersupport #mentalhealthtraining #peersupportgroup

💚 Recognize the Changes: Support your peers, friends, family and community 💚 Understanding changes in someone that might mean they are having suicidal thoughts or feelings can help with supporting people in our communities. If you notice changes—like withdrawing from loved ones, drastic mood swings, or talking about feeling hopeless—it’s important to reach out and offer support. For more in-depth signs, check out our slideshow here. In observance of National Suicide Prevention Week, we wanted to share some common changes that can occur in someone who is having suicidal thoughts or feelings*. Remember, simply being a non-judgmental, empathetic, supportive person in someone’s corner can change a lot for them. #peersupport #SuicidePreventionWeek #SuicidePreventionMonth #SPM24 *Information source from Mental Health America website

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. As we reflect on those whose lives have been affected by suicide, we also take time to focus on the resources and conversations that can help respond to suicide in our communities. Some Statistics* 💚 Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for more than 1% of all deaths. It is the second leading cause of death among people ages 15-24. 💚 More years of life are lost to suicide than to any other single cause except heart disease and cancer. 💚 Nine of out 10 people who attempt suicide and survive do not go on to complete suicide at a later date. Resources like The California Peer Run Warm Line and MHASF support groups promote peer connection and offer support that leads to suicide prevention in the long run. Holistic community resources allows peers to receive support well before crisis arises. In the last year, 63% of Warm Line contacts who responded to our survey reported a reduction in distress after reaching out to MHASF’s California Peer Run Warm Line. MHASF's Peer Run Warm Line is here for you 24/7. Call or Text 855-600-WARM (9276) to speak with a counselor. #peer #warmline #mentalhealth #peersupport #suicideawareness *Information source from Mental Health America website

The power of mutuality can be life-changing in mental health support. One way MHASF supports our community is connecting through mutuality. Since our warm line counselors are peers, we lead with what we have in common with the people who reach out to us. Ten years of mutuality from us means ten years of expertise in our own experience. MHASF's Peer-Run Warm Line is here for you 24/7. Call or Text 855-600-WARM (9276) to speak with a counselor.  #peer #warmline #mentalhealth #peersupport