Dear Friends of CAPC:

May is National Mental Health Awareness month. CAPC builds in mental health awareness and support in all of our programs in an effort to reduce the stigma around accessing mental health services for families.
Take Action for Mental Health is the campaign for California’s ongoing mental health movement.
The primary goal for Take Action for Mental Health is to help Californians support their mental health and the mental health of people they care about. The campaign’s underlying goal is to support prevention and early intervention efforts that promote mental wellness and offer Californians the tools to seek help for themselves or a loved one. To learn more visit Take Action for Mental Health Toolkit [takeaction4mh.com].
Carol Carrillo, MSW
Executive Director

Take Action for Mental Health
Every month should be a month we are paying attention to our mental health, right? But with May as Mental Health Matters Month, we have a special focus on getting the word out about what you can do to take action for your mental health and for everyone in your community.
You may already know that more than half of all Americans will experience a mental illness or disorder in their lifetime. And just about all of us have times when we feel stressed out, anxious, or down. When that happens to you or a loved one, do you know what to do?
Recognizing that you or someone you know could use some support for your mental health is the first step. That means checking in with yourself regularly and checking in with others to see if they may need help. Then you can take action to get support if it’s needed.
Join us and people across California in taking the Take Action for Mental Health Pledge. This is a way to commit to ourselves and the people around us that mental health is a priority and that we will do what we can to support each other.
The Take Action for Mental Health Pledge says:
I Pledge to Take Action for Mental Health
·     I will Check-In with myself to identify mental health needs.
·     I will Learn More about mental health.
·     I will Get Support for my own mental health and support the mental health of others.
·     I will share this pledge with others to help them take action too!
You can download the pledge [takeaction4mh.com] and find more resources to help you Check-In, Learn More, and Get Support on the Take Action for Mental Health website [takeaction4mh.com].
You can also watch and share this powerful video [vimeo.com] created by students as part of the Directing Change program to learn how they pledge to Take Action for Mental Health.

Sent on behalf of CalMHSA and the Take Action for Mental Health Team
Thank you to everyone who supported CAPC’s annual luncheon “Here Comes the Sun” With your support we raised almost $40,000 to support child abuse prevention. A big thank you to the Auxiliary for the Child Abuse Prevention Council members, our sponsors, and volunteers. Together we make a difference.
Child maltreatment is a persistent problem within Contra Costa County. Although it is a hidden social ill, its
impact is significant. Child maltreatment impacts not just the child, but the family, the community, and
society at large. In California, as many as one out of every 23 children is suspected of being maltreated. The
impact of maltreatment not only morally degrades our society, it significantly hurts our economy. In fact,
the physical, mental, and emotional effects of maltreatment persist long after child maltreatment occurs,
and result in ongoing costs to every sector of California.
Child maltreatment is a core underlying factor in many of California’s ongoing struggles, such as high rates
of school dropout, homelessness, incarceration, and chronic health issues. This report shines a light on this
largely ignored issue, with a specific focus in your county, and the negative impact it has on all of us.
CAPC PROGRAMS
Child Abuse Prevention Council | 2120 Diamond Blvd., Suite 120, Concord, CA 94520