By Leah Harris
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It’s Mental Health Awareness month again, and there are nearly unlimited ways to participate, learn, and lift your voice. This year, we’re highlighting some East Bay and California-based events that you won’t want to miss, with both in-person and virtual options to learn, celebrate, and connect. 

​We wish you a most inspiring and energizing Mental Health Awareness Month 2022!
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By Leah Harris
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In honor of Earth Day this April 23, we’re taking a closer look at the mental health benefits of digging in the dirt. The microbes contained in soil have been found to have antidepressant and stress-relieving properties. And a growing body of research supports gardening as a vital personal and community wellness activity. 
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By Kozi Arrington and Alejandro Ramos

Why is women’s History Month so important? 

The contributions of women through the years have often gone unappreciated and forgotten. Women’s History Month, which takes place every year in March, is a time for reflection, appreciation, and celebration. Women’s History Month is a time for us to recognize contributions both large and small that have changed women’s lives for the better.
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In honor of this month, we want to highlight women that have left their mark on history.

Photo by Filip Mishevski on Unsplash

By Leah Harris
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We live in a time of rapid, shocking, and sometimes traumatic change. Vicarious trauma, sometimes known as secondary trauma, is real. Trauma is closely connected to the sensation of overwhelm, which can generate fear and anxiety. People can be deeply affected by traumatic or violent information and media they are exposed to, even if it isn’t happening directly to them. 
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Shining a light on the Black Wellness and Resilience Support Group at PEERS

By Alejandro Ramos

With Black History Month coming to a close, it’s important we remember to uplift and celebrate Black people all year round. 
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By Alejandro Ramos

Religion and spirituality can be powerful tools for mental health wellness. They offer us a way of understanding what we’re going through and have faith that things will get better. 
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What if the main practitioners and leaders of your faith-based institution aren’t open to discussing mental health challenges? That can be ostracizing, and that’s what PEERS’ Hope & Faith Campaign is looking to address.
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We’re happy to announce the addition of Louise Franklin to our team. Louise is joining us as Interim Executive Director. Here is a little bit about her, her experience, and her goals for our organization, in her own words:
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Greetings!  I am happy and most honored to be able to introduce myself to you as PEERS’ new Interim Executive Director!  As I write this, I am starting my third week at PEERS but already I feel truly privileged to be a part of this organization.  I am so impressed by the level of commitment, professionalism and care demonstrated by both the staff and the board of directors.
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