May is Mental Health Matters Month: A Time to Connect, Care & Cultivate Wellness in Placer County
Why Mental Health Matters
Each year, May is recognized as Mental Health Matters Month – a national movement that shines a spotlight on the importance of mental well-being and the collective need to reduce stigma. Mental health affects every aspect of our lives: our relationships, our work, our physical health, and our connection to community.
In Placer County and across the nation, May is a time to honor the courage of those living with mental health challenges, amplify local resources, and foster conversations that bring hope and healing. By coming together, we show that mental health matters – to all of us, every day.
This month, we’re not just raising awareness, we’re turning it into action! Placer County’s theme is May We Inspire Action – because change starts with all of us. Join us in sparking conversations, supporting one another, and putting an end to stigma. Together, #MayWeInspire hope, healing, and real impact.
We want to see your commitment through the month of May! Keep in touch with @Placer4MentalHealth on Instagram and Facebook to see the campaign in action. Share your take on the campaign and your support for mental health by using the hashtag #MayWeInspire. Have photos or a story that you would like to have featured for the campaign? DM the social media accounts, or send an email to info@placerccw.org
Community Events in Placer County
One of the most powerful ways to support mental health is to get involved. This May, there are opportunities all over Placer County to do just that:
- Placer4MentalHealth Wellness Fair – Thursday May 15th
- Location: Maidu Community Center
- Time: 12pm-6pm
- Join us for a free, family-friendly day filled with 50+ local wellness resources, live entertainment, interactive workshops, raffles, and more! This event is all about connection, celebration, and empowering our community with tools for well-being.
- Be Well Roseville 5k – Saturday May 17th
- Location: Maidu Regional Park
- Time: 9am
- Dress up in your brightest Be Well Roseville colors (pink, green, blue) and join us at Maidu Regional Park for the first ever Be Well Roseville 5K Fun Run! All participants will get a race bib, professional timing, and a Be Well Roseville finisher medal. Be one of the first people to experience the Be Well Roseville 5K.
- Placer Pride – Saturday May 17th
- Location: Royer Park
- Time: 11am-5pm
- Admission is free for this inclusive, family-friendly event! There will be entertainment by the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists, and other queer and ally performers. Enjoy food trucks, lawn games, and lots of booths with LGBTQ+ resources and vendors.
- NAMI Placer County Potluck – Sunday May 18th
- Location: Central Park, Roseville CA
- Time: 12pm-2pm
- Join us for a casual, heartwarming gathering where we celebrate mental health advocacy, connection, and community spirit.
Simple Self-Care Ideas for May
Practicing self-care doesn’t have to be complicated – small acts make an impactful difference. Self-care is not selfish! Here are a few ideas you can try this month:
- Get Outside Daily – A short walk outside can reduce stress and improve your mood!
- Unplug Regularly – Set boundaries with your screen time and take mindful breaks from social media. Connect with your surroundings.
- Prioritize Sleep – A rested mind is a resilient mind. Prepare yourself for the days and week ahead by aiming for a good nights’ rest. 7-9 hours each night is ideal.
- Express Yourself – Journaling, art, or music can help to release emotions and bring clarity to your mind.
- Connect Intentionally – Reach out to a friend or loved one you haven’t spoken to recently. Even if it’s a quick check in – it matters.
- Move Your Body – Dance, stretch, or pick up an outdoor hobby like gardening.
Mindfulness Strategies for Everyday Mental Wellness
Mindfulness is a practice of being fully present in the moment without judgement. Research shows it can reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and even support better sleep.
- Box breathing (4-4-4-4): Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold again for 4. Repeat.
- 5 Senses Check-In: Pause and notice one thing you can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste.
- Gratitude Practice: Write down 3 things you’re grateful for each day.
- Mindful Walking: Walk slowly and notice how each step feels. Focus on your breathing and surroundings. You can also try a ‘color walk’ pick one color and focus on finding items in your surroundings to the corresponding color.
- Body Scan Meditation: Lie down and slowly bring awareness to each part of your body from head to toe.
You don’t need 30 minutes or an hour to spend on mindfulness. Sometimes, finding the time is the most daunting part. Even 3 minutes of mindfulness can make a meaningful difference.
Take the Pledge to end Mental Health Stigma in Placer County
Join the pledge to be the change to end mental health stigma and discrimination!
Here’s how you can be the change:
Speak Up
Challenge harmful language and attitudes when you hear them, and educate others about the impact of language on mental health.
Lead by example
Use language that is respectful, accurate, and non-judgmental when referring to individuals living with mental illness.
Educate yourself
Learn about mental health and the ways in which language can reduce stigma and discrimination.
Get involved
Participate in awareness campaigns, volunteer with organizations dedicated to reducing mental health stigma, and advocate for policy changes that promote inclusion and understanding.
Show support
Reach out to someone you know who is living with mental illness and offer them your support and understanding. Encourage others to take the pledge.
To take the pledge click here!
Statewide Resources
Take Action For Mental Health
The statewide Take Action for Mental Health campaign 2025 theme acknowledges that mental health can be a spectrum or continuum, and aims to meet people where they are at in the journey, celebrating the small ‘wins’ along the way, and steers away from ideas of ‘toxic positivity’, reinforcing the idea that it’s ‘ok to not be ok.’
Whether someone is simply getting through the day or taking a small step toward self-care, each moment is valid and is part of a continuum. Mental health doesn’t have a set destination — it’s okay to be exactly where you are right now. Progress, no matter how small, matters, and it’s okay to go at your own pace. Mental Health as a Continuum challenges the binary idea of “healthy” versus “unhealthy” mental health, normalizing the wide range of mental health experiences, encouraging individuals to embrace and accept the full spectrum of their well-being.
Digital Toolkit:
The digital toolkit theme for May is Mental Health as a Continuum.
Click here to access the full toolkit which includes resources, digital backgrounds for web meetings, web banners, and different tools to use for the month of May!
Printed Materials:
