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Now’s the time to Read Up! With one in five adult San Diegans facing mental health challenges, it’s up to us to make San Diego a supportive community for those experiencing such challenges. Through education and awareness, the It’s Up to Us bulletin offers mental health related information, resources, ways to get involved and also how to stay informed.

  • Finding Answers in Troubling Times

    In the wake of so much senseless violence in our country, we are left trying to make sense of it. Why? Were there warning signs?...

  • Video Games

    Eat right, exercise, manage your stress, and learn positive thinking patterns: those are time-proven, effective strategies for improving your mental health. Smartphones allow us to...

  • Tips to Prevent Firearm Suicides

    The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency launched a unique approach that recognizes the gun-owning and gun-selling community as partners in the...

  • Keeping Our Loved Ones Safe

    Restricting Access to Lethal Means Can Save Lives When it comes to keeping suicidal people safe from harm, reducing their access to means of self-injury is...

  • Youth Direct Change Through Film

    The Directing Change Program and Film Contest invites youth ages 14–25 and students in grades 7–12 to submit 60-second public service announcements to change conversations...

  • Survivors of Suicide Loss (SOSL)

    reaches out to and supports people who have lost a loved one to suicide. SOSL is dedicated to educating the community about suicide and...

  • From Small Talk to Real Talk

    Expressing genuine interest in others is a great way to open up conversation and connect more deeply. Try taking some of the time you spend...

  • Why the Loss of Stars We Admire Hurts So Much

    Many people were deeply saddened by the recent suicide deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Suicide among such talented and outwardly successful individuals reminds...

  • Neighbor to Neighbor: Care and Connect

    “In English this means something in the spirit of: Life is not the party we imagined, but let’s dance while we’re here. Political uncertainty coupled...

  • How to Explore Controversial Topics Respectfully

    "In this environment of division and adversity it is most essential to continue to engage in conversations, healthy debates, and listening. Speaking out should not...

  • 5 Ways You Can Get Up and Participate

    Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance...

  • When the External Becomes Internal: Community Stress and Our Mental Health

    Many San Diegans find these to be challenging times. The political climate is charged, social media is full of rumors and disturbing events, and the...

  • Stress in the 21st Century

    Stress is the natural response of the body when a demand is made on it. Changes, whether good or bad, and our desire to attempt...

  • 10 Facts About Depression

    : An information-rich website with a humorous approach to men’s mental health. Men can take the 20 Point Head Inspection to get a rundown of...

  • Link Up with Local Organizations and Resources

    In addition to the San Diego Access & Crisis Line and 2-1-1, there are a variety of excellent local organizations that support San Diego County...

  • When Was the Last Time You Checked Your Mood

    Check Your Mood Day is an annual event held in conjunction with National Depression Screening Day in October. The goal of Check Your Mood Day...

  • The Coronado Bridge Initiative

    One of the most effective ways to prevent injuries is to place a barrier between the person and an object that may cause harm. Whether...

  • Your Rights to Mental Health Services

    Did you know that approximately one in five people experience a mental illness? Yet too many San Diegans go without mental health treatment. Few are...

  • For Others and Themselves

    Senior Volunteers in Action and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) are two volunteer programs available through Aging & Independence Services (AIS) that provide...

  • Is Love All Your Child Needs to Be Happy?

    We know that unconditional love is critically important to ensure healthy development, and parents can express it differently from infancy to middle childhood. Let’s explore what...

  • Depression Shouldn’t Dim the Golden Years

    Bette Davis once said, “Old age is not for sissies.” There are many versions of her quote but they all express the sentiment that aging...

  • Write to Feel Right

    Feeling blue? Not sure if your mood is improving or getting worse? One simple way to keep track is to write your feelings down. Keeping...

  • Why Parents Should Pay Attention to 13 Reasons Why

    The Netflix drama series 13 Reasons Why, about a teenage girl who takes her life after being bullied, has been widely watched, praised, and criticized....

  • Walk in Our Shoes

    Walk in Our Shoes is an innovative educational program for kids (ages 9–13), teachers, and parents to learn about mental wellness and have open, honest conversations about...

  • How You Can Help Someone Experiencing Homelessness

    We’ve all seen the increase in people experiencing homelessness around San Diego County. In fact, the Regional Task Force on the Homeless announced a 5 ...

  • Don’t Drive Like My Brother!

    Sound familiar? “Car Talk” is the popular long-running radio show hosted by two brothers who dispense colorful advice to callers to help them solve their...

  • Using Smart(phone) Ways to Improve Your Mental Health

    A smartphone can be a great tool to help improve health and wellness. There are apps to help you make healthier food choices, train for a 5K or...

  • Recovery Happens!

    National Recovery Month honors individuals on their journey of recovery. Each September, people in San Diego and across the nation celebrate the importance of recovery...

  • Mixed Up About Rx?

    If you have seen the many headlines about prescription drugs you may be wondering: fact or fiction? The truth is that many medications are over-prescribed and...

  • Mental Health First Aid Training Program

    Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders....

  • Raising Drug Free Kids

    Kids who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are significantly less likely to use drugs. The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids offers tools for...

  • Stay Connected and Expand Your Social Circle

    Every person needs social connections to thrive, but when older adults experience loneliness and social isolation, they may suffer negative health consequences including depression, anxiety,...

  • Get Active on the Job

    Regular exercise can improve your mood, help with long-term depression, reduce your blood pressure and even extend your life. But the benefits gained from going...

  • Live Well San Diego Encourages Us to Be Our Best, Healthiest Selves

    Live Well San Diego is the County of San Diego’s vision to improve the health, safety and well-being of all of us living in America’s...

  • Three Tips for Better Sleep and Happier Kids

    Is your child moody, emotional, irritable, defiant or hyperactive? Does your child have trouble concentrating or getting out of bed in the morning? If you...

  • How Music Can Boost Your Mental Health

    We’ve all experienced the power of a great song. But did you know that music has scientifically proven benefits to our health? Here are just...

  • Questions to Ask Yourself (and Your Therapist) to Find the Perfect Fit

      Whether you are experiencing a mental health challenge yourself or seeking to help someone you care about, one of the first steps is reaching out...

  • Not Just Back-to-School, but Well-to-School

    With new teachers and classmates, new routines and more schoolwork, the beginning of a new school year can be an exciting and stressful time, whether...

  • Help Your Way to Health

    When you do something kind for someone such as a favor for a friend or help a stranger find an address, you are not only...

  • Youth Empowerment Programs Promote Overall Wellness

    Youth empowerment programs foster positive personal traits and meaningful community relationships. Research suggests that young people who engage in these types of programs and activities...

  • Bipolar Disorder Information & Resources in San Diego

    Bipolar disorder is a medical condition that causes a person to experience extreme highs (mania) as well as extreme lows (depression). It typically begins during...

  • Unleash the Picasso Within and Benefit Your Emotional Health

    For centuries art has existed as an outlet for people to share ideas, inspire action and pass down personal and cultural stories. Whether you enjoy...

  • Hike for Mental Health

    Nature offers incredible healing powers for our mind and body. Research has shown that blue skies and scenic outdoor views can reduce stress, relieve mental...

  • Healthy Snacking

    Healthy nutrition is essential for physical and mental development in young children, increasing energy and focus. Yet providing healthy snack options for kids can feel...

  • Young People Can Use Creativity to Promote Mental Wellness

    Young people can make a difference in a variety of ways, including using their creativity to develop films about important topics such as mental health,...

  • The Tipping Point—Are You Enjoying a Drink or Needing a Drink?

    Whether it is to celebrate or simply forget our day at work, alcohol can help change the way we feel. But while a glass of...

  • First 5 California “Talk” Campaign

    First 5 California’s new campaign encourages parents to talk, read and sing to their young children as a way to promote healthy brain growth, especially in...

  • Jamin’s Story

    Struggling with hardships such as abuse, stigma and discrimination, homelessness or traumatic memories can be difficult. But life can get better. Connecting with the right...

  • Start the Talk about Underage Drinking

    Talking about alcohol is among the first steps a parent can take in preventing his or her child from engaging in underage drinking. Here are...

  • Expressing Gratitude Benefits Our Mental Health!

    The next time someone holds the door open for you and you reply with a thank you, remember that you are doing more than just...

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder

    For some people, the winter blues during the fall and winter seasons can include feeling overwhelmed due to the stress of the holidays or feeling...

  • Support Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Awareness

    Connect with the “It’s Up to Us” campaign for inspirational messages, educational facts, local resources, information on symptoms of mental illness, warning signs of suicide,...

  • Learn QPR to Prevent Suicide!

    QPR, which stands for Question, Persuade and Refer, is an emergency intervention to help a person who is considering suicide. Anyone who is in a...

  • When It Comes to Matters of Mental Health, Culture Counts!

    San Diego has long prided itself on its diverse population. Our community is truly a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities and heritages. Culture—our beliefs, norms,...

  • Siblings–Friend or Foe?

    Our siblings are our first friends and also our first rivals. Often, the cause of sibling rivalry can be due to children not wanting to...

  • Pleasure, Play and Mental Health

    Why is it important to enjoy the things we do and do the things we enjoy? When we engage in activities that we take pleasure...

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

    People with OCD experience persistent and unwelcome anxious thoughts, and the result is feeling a strong need to perform rituals to maintain control. For instance,...

  • San Diego Wounded Warrior Project

    Most veterans face challenges as they transition back into civilian life, including physical injuries as well as invisible ones, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)....

  • Lights, Camera, Action: Media Can Help Shape a Positive Image for Mental Illness

    Of course, we know that there is added drama in the dramas we watch, but they still shape us. We have ideas about how our...

  • M is for Meditation and Mental Health!

    Breathing is not only a physical action, but a mental one too. Mindful meditation is a way for individuals to focus on their present thoughts...

  • Turn Off the Screen and Turn On Wellbeing

    There is no denying the convenience we all enjoy from our apps and electronics, however, just like fat and sugar, screen time should be enjoyed...

  • The Bully Factor – Play It Safe

    Bullying is not a new problem, but it is certainly top of mind when it comes to the challenges youngpeople face today. According to the...

  • Who’s Keeping Score?

    Participating in sports can develop positive traits in our children such as good health, discipline, teamwork and dedication. But what happens when a child is...

  • Schizophrenia – What is Schizophrenia?

    When we think of schizophrenia, the first people that come to mind are not necessarily Nobel Prize winners such as John Nash, star athletes such...

  • The Trevor Project

    The Trevor Project is a national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth and young adults, ages 13–24, over the phone,...

  • Give Your Brain a Workout!

    Along with proper nutrition and supplements, our brain needs constant stimulation to create new cells that can help us fight disease and boost our memory....

  • Know the Signs, Find the Words and Reach Out!

    Even when surrounded by friends and family, someone experiencing emotional pain or suicidal thoughts can often feel isolated. Recognizing the warning signs is the first...

  • Amanda’s Story

    Struggling with hardships such as abuse, stigma and discrimination, homelessness, or traumatic memories can be difficult. But life can get better. Connecting with the right...

  • Common Signs & Symptoms of a Panic Disorder

    Our brains are wired to recognize fear and experience when we are frightened. But for some people a feeling of intense fear and anxiety...

  • Check on an Older Adult in Your Life!

    “I’m fine” and “Nothing I can’t take care of myself.” Do these sound like familiar responses when you ask an older person how he or...

  • Helping Children Make Sense of a Parent’s Mental Illness

    Explaining mental illness to a child can be a challenging task for any parent living with mental illness. But it’s important to talk openly with...

  • Creating Intergenerational Connections­ Good for Our Mental Health and Our Community

    What do children and older adults have in common? In San Diego the answer is lots! For the last decade strides have been made in...

  • Tunes for Your Wellbeing

    Want to unwind from a stressful day at work or can’t go to sleep? Enjoy some music. Listening, singing and dancing along to our favorite...

  • Elvira’s Story

    Struggling with hardships such as abuse, stigma and discrimination, homelessness, or traumatic memories can be difficult. But life can get better. Connecting with the right...

  • Depression

    Each year about 18.8 million American adults experience a depressive illness that impacts their body, mood and thoughts. Depression is normally accompanied by a prevailing...

  • Each Mind Matters Join California’s Mental Health Movement

    This website provides resources, information to find a presenter on mental health as well as tools for promoting awareness through social media. Individuals can join...

  • Creating Caring Congregations

    A supportive faith community can provide hope, support and the feeling of being connected to something bigger: a place where people are accepted for who...

  • 5 Tips to Promote Social-Emotional Health Among Young Children

    Information courtesy of the American Academy for Pediatrics ...

  • Man Therapy

    Man Therapy reshapes the conversation around men and mental health by using humor to cut through stigma and tackle issues such as depression, divorce and...

  • Craig’s Story

    Struggling with hardships such as abuse, stigma and discrimination, homelessness, or traumatic memories can be difficult. But life can get better. Connecting with the right...

  • Take Care of Your Spirit

    Eat your veggies. Get enough rest. Exercise. Those are clear suggestions. But how do we nurture our spirit? One way is to think of spirituality...

  • Eight Resolutions for the New Year and All Year Long

        If you are concerned that a friend or family member is struggling with depression, anxiety or another mental disorder, the best thing you can do...

  • Indicators That Your Child May Have Autism

    With more children being diagnosed with autism each year than juvenile diabetes, AIDS and cancer combined, chances are you know a family member, friend or...

  • Joseph’s Story

    Struggling with hardships such as abuse, stigma and discrimination, homelessness, or traumatic memories can be difficult. But life can get better. Connecting with the right...

  • Happy Together? Or is Your Relationship Taking a Toll on Your Mental Health?

    Human nature is social by design. We have an emotional need for relationships and positive connections to others. But what if a relationship turns from...

  • Protecting Our Children from Violence

    We all want the best for our children. But how do we protect them from today’s increasingly violent world? Children usually see and hear more...

  • Mental Health Support For Caregivers

    If you’re caring for a loved one with a chronic illness, disability or the frailties of old age it is likely that you have been...

  • Kimberly’s Story

    Struggling with hardships such as abuse, stigma and discrimination, homelessness, or traumatic memories can be difficult. But life can get better. Connecting with the right...

  • What Causes Mental Illness?

    The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) defines mental illness as a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood and ability to relate...

  • Jennifer’s Story

    Struggling with hardships such as abuse, stigma and discrimination, homelessness, or traumatic memories can be difficult. But life can get better. Connecting with the right...

  • How to Cope with Children’s Fears

    Is there a parent who hasn’t experienced their child asking to keep the light on at night, expressing fear of a monster in the closet,...

  • Tips to Stay Active and in Good Spirits

    While we may intuitively know that a good walk can help clear heads and calm minds, multiple studies outlined in “A Review of Literature: The...

  • Co-Occurring Disorders (or Dual Diagnosis)

    In the United States, approximately 7.9 million adults have a substance use condition and mental health problem occurring at the same time. Substance abuse and...

  • Try Laughter Yoga This Summer!

    Laughter yoga is a simple exercise program that combines stretching, breathing, laughter and relaxation. According to San Diego laughter yoga instructor Dr. Funshine, “Laughter yoga...

  • Stress— Once a Life Saver, Now a Serious Threat to Our Health

    Stress is what we feel when we have to handle more than we are used to. When we are stressed, our body responds as though...

  • Annabelle Camba-Jones’s Story

    Facing stigma and discrimination, overcoming hardships such as abuse, homelessness and traumatic memories can be difficult, but it can get better. Finding inner strength and...

  • How Pets Improve Our Health

    Pets have always played a special role in humans’ lives. The Egyptians were commonly seen alongside dogs, cats and monkeys on tomb walls, dating as...

  • Resources for Anxiety in San Diego

    Anxiety is a feeling of worry and usually occurs as a normal response to stress. In most cases, this feeling disappears as soon as the...

  • Information on Self Harm – A Silent Cry for Help

    The act of deliberately injuring oneself is a puzzling (and for parents frightening) behavior to understand, and is known to be much more common than...

  • San Diego News Anchor Shares Her Story of Recovery from Mental Illness

    Depression and anxiety can happen to anybody at any time and should not be taken lightly. One of the most difficult things about overcoming depression...

  • How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger

    According to the American Psychological Association, anger is a completely normal, healthy human emotion when it is expressed correctly. When anger is not expressed correctly...

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

    About 8 million American adults are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) each year. PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced a traumatic and life-changing...

  • Smiling Is Good for You

    Positive thinking helps us stay emotionally well. Research found people who kept track of their gratitude once a week were more cheerful and had fewer...

  • Bruce’s Story

    Facing stigma and discrimination, overcoming hardships such as abuse, homelessness and traumatic memories can be difficult, but it can get better. Finding inner strength and...

  • Stand Up to Stigma in the Media

    Mental illness is common. In fact, mental health challenges are experienced by one in five San Diegans. They have careers, families and hobbies; yet TV...

  • For Men Only (and those that love them)

    When you’re feeling pretty good about yourself, chances are you’re happy at home, hitting the gym, doing well at work, and simply enjoying all that...

  • Positive Solutions Program

    The Positive Solutions program serves homebound seniors (60+) with minor depression from all cultural backgrounds in the County’s Central, North Inland, and North Coastal Regions....

  • Eating Disorder Information & Resources in San Diego

    If left untreated, eating disorders can cause many physical and emotional problems and even lead to death. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa...

  • Eat Healthy. Be Happy.

    The following five foods help improve your mood, according to Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., a former Massachusetts Institute of Technology research scientist and coauthor of The...

  • Military Children: Making it a Smoother Transition after a Deployment

    Living in San Diego, chances are you have a loved one in the military. The separation is hard for everyone, but especially for children. Try...

  • Impact the Life of Fellow San Diegans by Becoming a Volunteer

    SDYS is a nationally recognized non-profit organization that works with homeless youth and youth in crisis. Numerous volunteer opportunities are available, including: working with adopted...

  • Students’ Mental Health

    College can be an exciting time of self-discovery, independence and realizing dreams for the future. Yet the challenge of balancing school, sleep, work and play...

  • Michelle’s Story

    Stories of struggle, perseverance and hope are shared by countless San Diegans. Facing stigma and discrimination, overcoming hardships such as abuse, homelessness and traumatic memories...

  • Mental Health America of San Diego County

    MHA of San Diego County promotes mental health through advocacy, education, research and service. MHA offers information on local resources, events and training. It also...

  • Bipolar Disorder

    Bipolar disorder is a medical condition that causes a person to experience extreme highs (mania) as well as extreme lows (depression). It typically begins during...

  • Raise Awareness about Mental Illness and Recovery on Campus

    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers these tips to raise awareness about mental illness and recovery on campus. These suggestions, however, work...

  • Mental Illness Is Not Reserved For Adults

    Severe mental illness often starts before age 21, and can take both the teenager and the parents by surprise. You can stop the progression of...

  • Suicide is Preventable

    It’s not always easy to recognize the warning signs that someone is thinking about ending their life, or to start that difficult conversation. What if...

  • Mercedes’s Story

    Stories of struggle, perseverance and hope are shared by countless San Diegans. Facing stigma and discrimination, overcoming hardships such as abuse, homelessness and traumatic memories...

  • Warning Signs for Suicide

    Warning signs are the earliest detectable signs that indicate heightened risk for suicide in the near-term (i.e., within minutes, hours, or days), as opposed to...

  • Postpartum Depression in San Diego

    The baby blues after childbirth can commonly include mood swings, anxiety, irritability and crying spells, but typically fade quickly. Postpartum depression is a more severe,...

  • Emotional Health For New Moms and Moms to Be

    Pregnancy and caring for a newborn are blissful, yet also stressful times. Here are a couple of resources to help moms and moms-to-be maintain their...

  • How to Stay Emotionally Fit in the Golden Years

    The Golden Years is the time we hope to harvest the seeds we planted early on in life by making the most of our retirement,...

  • Courage to Call

    Courage to Call is a Veteran-run, peer-to-peer support program in San Diego County providing free and confidential services to active and former military members, reservists,...

  • Children’s Emotional Wellbeing

    We protect our children from the cold with warm clothing, and ease stuffy noses with chicken noodle soup and lots of rest. We offer nutritious...

  • Susan’s Story

    Facing stigma and discrimination, overcoming hardships such as abuse, homelessness and traumatic memories can be difficult, but it can get better. Finding inner strength and...

  • Pharoh’s Story

    "In 1997, I passed basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) school with flying colors and started my career as a Medical Specialist in the...

  • Learn More About Mental Illness

    Seemingly overnight your once “sweet child” is slamming doors, rolling eyes at everything you say (that is, if you are not simply ignored), discovering a...

  • Essentials For a Healthy Mind and Body

    Being mentally and physically fit allows us to handle life’s inevitable challenges, build strong relationships and bounce back when life throws us a curve ball....

  • 2-1-1 San Diego County

    2-1-1 is an information and referral hotline that connects San Diego County residents to more than 2000 community agencies who provide over 5000 health and...

  • Nurturing Children’s Emotional Health

    Reading to children is an important part of their emotional and intellectual development. Here are a few tips to make reading part of your daily...

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