A belief in potential. A right to dream. An opportunity to achieve.
Welcome to SCCMHA
We at SCCMHA have a deep-seated belief in the potential of every person we meet.
These same persons have a right to dream and imagine a life of their choosing and we are here to support those dreams and help them with opportunities to achieve.
May is recognized as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month.
Borderline Personality Disorder is a widely misunderstood psychiatric disorder, affecting over 14 million Americans each year.
May is recognized as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month.
BPD is identified by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This can lead to intense episodes of anger, depression and anxiety that can last from a few hours to several days.
About 75% of diagnosed cases of BPD are found in women and more people are affected by BPD than both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder combined.
BPD is also associated with a higher incidence of substance abuse, eating disorders and depression, as well as suicide – which is 400 times the rate of the general population.
However, BPD is highly treatable through therapy and medication, with approximately 50% of people diagnosed experience significant improvement through treatment within five years.
Due to the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, many cases go unnoticed and BPD can often be overlooked by those who have not been diagnosed or do not understand it.
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month is important to raise awareness and help end the stigma around BPD, as well as encouraging those in need to get assistance.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Sparking the conversation around mental health and helping to stop the stigma begins with courage.
Courage to share our stories, connect with each other about mental health and encouraging ourselves and our loved ones to seek mental health help when we need it.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around behavioral health issues and how it can impact all of us, whether personally or through our friends and families.
Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year and it’s important that we recognize just how common it is, so we can have the conversations to help get better mental health care for all.
We can break the stigma around mental illness and build more support and create policies to improve mental health care by sharing our stories and advocate for ourselves.
According to studies from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
- More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness.
- Over 1 in 7 youth either currently or at some point in their life are affected by a serious mental illness.
- About 1 in 25 US adults live with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression.
If you are worried about your mental health or worried about someone you know, there are resources and people out there who are willing to help.
Here is a list of resources to connect with for mental health assistance:
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a 24/7 treatment referral and information service.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7, confidential support for people in distress.
- FindTreatment.gov helps people seek treatment for mental and substance use disorders.
- National Institute of Mental Health outlines additional mental health services.
For more information: Mental Health Awareness Month | NAMI | May is Mental Health Awareness Month | AHA | Mental Health Awareness Month 2026 - National Council
May is recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
May is recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated to recognize the historic and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States.
The holiday was first commemorated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in May 1977, however was expanded to be celebrated for the full month of May in 1990.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed many advancements and accomplishments in the US in the fields of science and medicine, literature and art, sports, politics, law and activism.
Significant figures of Asian or Pacific Islander descent include
- Patsy Mink, the first Asian American woman elected to Congress and the first to run for U.S. President
- Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu, a Chinese American nuclear physicist, noted for her contributions to the Manhattan Project, recipient of the inaugural Wolf Prize in Physics and the first woman to serve as president of the American Physical Society
- Taylor Gun-Jin Wang, the first Chinese American in space
- Philip Vera Cruz, a Filipino agricultural worker who served as the vice president of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union to demand better treatment for Filipino farmworkers
- Chloe Zhao, the first woman of color to win an Academy Award for Best Director for Nomadland
- Connie Chung, the first Asian American woman to anchor a national weekday news broadcast, joining CBS Evening News in 1993
- Jhumpa Lahiri, an Indian author who wrote Interpreter of Maladies in 1999, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, she also received the National Humanities Medal in 2014 for her contributions to literature
Today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing racial group in the United States. AAPI Heritage Month celebrates the history and cultural impact of all AAPI immigrants and citizens and their unique experiences and traditions.
To learn more: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Dates, Quotes | HISTORY | Famous Asian Americans to Know About
Children's Mental Health Awareness Week
Children’s mental health matters.
According to the CDC, over one in six children aged 2-8 are diagnosed with a mental health condition. May 3-9 is designated as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, while the American Psychological Association recognizes May 7 as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.
Taking positive steps to identifying and improving the mental health of children is crucial to their development, as well as promoting resiliency and recovery, as well as proper treatment for those children living with mental illnesses.
To help support children’s mental health, you can
- teach them to identify emotions
- look out for symptoms
- ensure their needs are met
- be a positive role model
- express love and affection
But more than that, just be kind. Kindness helps create strong connections for young children as they grow and help to feel more included and could help them develop as they get older.
These are great actions to take to ensure children feel heard and respected to communicate if they are dealing with mental illness. It all starts with you and your care and support!
Nurses make the difference.
May 6 – 12 marks National Nurses Week, as recognized by the American Nurses Association (ANA).
Nurses worldwide make invaluable and irreplaceable impacts every day, contributing to advancements in the nursing field, providing care, patient safety and making differences in the lives of those they serve.
In October 1954, the first National Nurse Week was observed in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s mission in Crimea, where she and 38 nurses arrived to assist in care for British soldiers during the Crimean War.
In 1982, the ANA formally acknowledged May 6 as National Nurses Day, eventually expanding it to National Nurses Week, taking place from May 6 to May 12.
You can help observe the holiday by thanking a nurse for their contributions worldwide, their effort, dedication and sacrifices.
Nurses are essential members of the healthcare workforce, and they cannot be thanked or celebrated enough for their contributions, compassion and care.
From all of us at SCCMHA, thank you nurses!
To learn more about National Nurses Week: ANA National Nurses Week | Nurse.org - National Nurses Week