My Mental Health: Do I Need Help? National Institute of Mental Health Infographic (PDF)

This helpful guide not only offers a self-assessment, but also provides strategies for next steps depending on your needs. It includes self-care activities and referrals to additional resources.

Road Map to Mental Health (PDF)

Mental health is all around us, but it’s often misunderstood. Here is some quick info to help demystify what we mean by “mental health” and how to talk about it.

The Roadmap to Mental Health explains what mental health is and the difference between mental health, mental wellness and mental fitness and provides resources to address the unique needs of specific groups of people. This downloadable pdf provides an infographic that you can share with others to promote mental health and reduce stigma.

Find Support SAMSHSA

In May 2023 HHS launched a new website, FindSupport.gov, to help individuals navigate toward better behavioral health, such as how to ask for help, how to help others, and how to search for a health care professional or support program that meets your needs regardless of insurance status. It also includes crisis line numbers to help you access help immediately.

For Educators: Taking Care of Yourself, Tips for Educators in Building Resilience

“As an educator and caring grown-up in children’s lives, your work has deep value and meaning. It also, of course, has its challenges! The grace, care, and kindness that you bring to these challenges all make an enormous impact on your life and the lives of the children you serve…….We work hard every day to meet children’s needs, but we’re vulnerable too. As members of a helping profession, we sometimes forget we need help as well.”

Read the article by April Solomon-Tate of First Up to learn about ideas you can use in the moment to support your own emotional health and well-being.

Morgan’s Wonderland, The One and Only Ultra-Accessible™ Theme Park

In 2006, Gordon Hartman observed his daughter, Morgan, wanting to play with other vacationing kids at a hotel swimming pool, but the kids were leery of Morgan and didn’t want to interact with her. Then and there, Gordon resolved to create opportunities and places where those with and without disabilities can come together for fun and a better understanding of one another. On April 10, 2010, Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas became the world’s first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind.

Morgan’s Wonderland offers 25 Ultra-Accessible™ attractions, sprawled across a 25-acre oasis of inclusion. From a wheelchair-accessible Ferris wheel to catch-and-release fishing, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy!

In 2017, the Ultra-Accessible™ theme park opened it’s expansion, Morgan’s Inspiration Island, which was named on the 2018 “World’s Greatest Places” list by TIME Magazine.

Guided by its mission of inclusion, the park strives to bring together guests of all ages and all abilities through the power of inclusive play.

Visit Morgan’s Wonderland website to learn about the Ultra-Accessible park and watch this CBS News Feature to hear the story of how and why Morgan’s Wonderland was built:

“He didn’t want his daughter, who has cognitive and physical disabilities, to feel left out. So, he built a fully accessible theme park“

How Do Vaccines Work? (Video)

All of us are exposed to germs, every day. Some can be dangerous and make kids very sick, such as measles, polio and diphtheria. For that reason, vaccination is the best way to protect your child from preventable illnesses. Learn how vaccines teach your child’s immune system to recognize and protect against dangerous diseases.

Video chapters:

Learn more https://www.healthychildren.org/

Ask the Pediatrician: COVID-19 Round-Up

Who Can Parents Trust to Answer Questions About COVID-19? A Pediatrician! This post of the American of Academy of Pediatric’s website, Healthy Children, answers questions from parents about COVID-19 and how it affects children.

Taking Care of Yourself: Developing a Self-Care Plan

Reach Out Schools teacher-wellbeing, a website supporting the mental health of teachers and schools in Australia, developed a template for a self-care plan that can help you enhance your health and wellbeing, manage your stress, and maintain professionalism as a worker with young people. Learn to identify activities and practices that support your wellbeing as a professional and help you to sustain positive self-care in the long-term. This article will help you to understand self-care, develop your self-care plan and put your self-care plan into action. It includes a template for you to download and create your own self-care plan.

Mia’s Dream Come True Playground (Video)

The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD) Board of Directors and the HARD Foundation has taken the Vasquez’ vision of a “Hayward-Centric” park and made it a reality. Mia’s Dream Come True Playground is a one-acre playground designed for “all” to gather, play and enjoy the outdoors. The new playground provides a variety of play features and experiences for children of all abilities in a fun atmosphere. It includes five elements of inclusion play for cognitive, physical, social, sensory and communication. Among the features are a Music Therapy Zone, Kindness Arches, Sensory Wall, Water Tower Look-out, swings and spinners, slides and rollers, and an Animal and Nature exhibit. The park also provides accessible pathways, picnic areas, seating and shade structures.

The park opened in summer 2021.

Visit the park at:

Mia’s Dream Come True Playground
28377 Huntwood Ave., Hayward CA 94541
Open daily from 8:30am-8pm

See pictures and videos of families enjoying the part at Mia’s Dream Come True Playground on Instagram

For more about the park project visit Mia’s Dream Come True Playground at RRM Design

6 Must-Watch Tedx Talks to Kick Off the New School Year

Since its creation in 2009, TEDx’s independently organized events continue to be a platform where people from all walks of life can learn and share wisdom on a variety of different topics with the world. Take a little time out of your busy schedule to check out the following six TEDx talks—all under 20 minutes in length—as you begin to wade into the waters of the new school year ahead. Watching even one of this set of Tedx talks comes under the category of “self-care”.

Take a look at the first video, “The real reason we are tired and what to do about it (Video),” Length: 9:35 mins

My Mental Health: Do I Need Help? National Institute of Mental Health Infographic (PDF)