September 2019 News & Updates
Stay connected!
Visit our website & sign up for ARISE events and meetings!
Hope to see you soon!
Join us on our Facebook Page! This is a space for members to share advocacy information around mental health in San Francisco, pose questions to each other, and collaborate.
Announcement

ARISE will be taking a break from September 2019 and starting up again in December 2019.

The ARISE Newsletter will be issued each month with announcements regarding events and our plans for ARISE Meetings starting again in December 2019. Thank you for your support and interest in advocacy and ARISE!

Recent Talking Points
ARISE Meeting Notes—August 17, 2019

Attendees: Peter M., Ray K., Eddie S.

1.        Voluntary Services First

Senior and Disability Action is hosting an open meeting for mental health consumers to begin to advocate for improved public mental health services, Friday, September 6th, 2 PM at SDA Office, 1360 Mission Street #400 (beween 9 th and 10 th Streets).
 
2.       MHASF Warm Line

The State Legislature is funding the Warm Line. MHASF is switching from volunteers to part-time (16 hours) paid staff and is hiring now. Eventually the Warm Line Hours will expand to 24/7.

3.       MHSA Awards

Peter and Eddie gave an update for the September 24, 2019 Awards Ceremony.

4.       Mental Health SF

Peter shared a SF Chronicle article and an infographic about the Mental Health SF Campaign. MHASF already does Crisis Intervention Training for the SFPD.

5.       ARISE Newsletter

We looked at the August Newsletter and the Better Because Project website.
ARISE Members And MHASF Staff Join Rally to Save Permanent Long Term Psychiatric Beds at San Francisco General Hospital
Photo Credit: Labor Video Project

On August 22, 2019, ARISE Members and MHASF Staff joined health care providers, patients, family members and community members at the San Francisco General Hospital's Adult Residential Facility (ARF) to protest the San Francisco Department of Public Health's plan to close 41 permanent long term psychiatric beds and replace them with 27 beds for short term use at the Hummingbird House Navigation Center.


Presently, because of staffing and "probation" issues, ARF has empty beds which providers would like to use for patients who no longer need to be in locked facilities, relieving one of many logjams in the public mental health system.

At the rally, unionized health care workers, psychiatrists, ARF residents and their families and elected officials demanded that SFDPH reverse its decision to eliminate these long term beds.

15 year ARF resident Donna Mateer (pictured above) explained, “Our director gave us 60-day notices out of the blue — it’s kind of unreal. It’s like, ‘Oh, I have two months to think about moving.'"

"I don’t think it’s fair. Mental illness is a real thing. Having to live with it is a job in itself. I’m so very thankful today to be alive."


You can sign an online petition to stop SFDPH from displacing people from ARF and from outsourcing jobs.
Voluntary Services First Coalition

The Voluntary Services First Coalition formed to oppose San Francisco's effort to expand the criteria for losing one’s civil liberties through conservatorships.

Please attend the next meeting of the Voluntary Services First Coalition:

Friday, September 20, 2019, 2 PM to 3:30 PM
Senior and Disability Action
1360 Mission Street, Suite 400 (between 9th and 10th Streets)
Mental Health Consumers
Working Group

Senior and Disability Action is hosting an open meeting for mental health consumers to advocate for improved public mental health services - Please RSVP with Raia at raia@sdaction.org

Friday, September 27, 2019, 2:30 PM
Senior and Disability Action
1360 Mission Street, Suite 400 (between 9th and 10th Streets)
September Mental Health Topics


  • National Suicide Prevention Month

Here are some excellent links from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):



September/October Free Events
September and October are great months to enjoy free events in San Francisco. Here are some suggestions:






- Saturday, September 14 at 2:00 pm
- Sunday, September 15 at 2:00 pm
- Thursday, September 19 at 10:00 am
- Friday, September 20 at 10:00 am
- Saturday, September 21 at 2:00 pm
- Sunday, September 22 at 2:00 pm



2019 MHSA Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, September 24th
10 AM - 2 PM
Scottish Rite Center, 2850 19th Avenue

The 8th Annual Mental Health Services Act Awards Ceremony honors the achievements of peers & providers in MHSA-funded programs in San Francisco. This is the only MHSA Awards Ceremony in California that is run by 100% peers!
Opportunities

Do you know any SF Youth who would like to be a part of our community?
Work or Volunteer with MHASF!
Mental Health Association of San Francisco has multiple job, volunteering, and internship opportunities available. Please check our website, linked below, if you are interested!
It's My Life -
Peer Partners Support Group
It’s My Life - Peer Partners, is an innovative peer-run support group, helping individuals identify and hone in on their life goals. Join in on this opportunity for self-growth in a safe environment – and make some new friends!

For more information, contact:
415-341-9516
The Warm Line
Mental Health Association of San Francisco | 415-421-2926| 415-421-2928| info@mentalhealthsf.org| Website