Charmed Counseling

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and there are several hyper-local events happening in the Vancouver area over the next week, alongside year-round community resources.
​Upcoming Local Events & Activities
​If you are looking to get involved, learn, or find community support in the immediate coming days, here are a few specific events happening in and around Vancouver:
•  ​Blooming Together: A Neurodivergent Support Group
◦ ​When: Tuesday evenings
◦ ​Where: Méraki Collective / Body Vitality (Vancouver, WA)
◦ ​What: A community-led space focusing on connection, validation, and mental wellness for neurodivergent individuals.
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◦  ​"Our Time to Shine" Mental Health Wellness Event
▪ ​When: Saturday, May 30, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
▪ ​Where: Washington State University Vancouver (303 E 16th Street)
▪ ​What: Presented by Seedling Psychological Services, this event focuses on community mental health awareness, wellness strategies, and local resources.
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▪  ​Thrive2Survive Community Wellness Pop-Up
▫ ​When: Recurring local dates (Check their community calendar for upcoming neighborhood locations)
▫ ​What: These events bring together roughly ten local organizations to provide direct, walk-in support for mental health services, recovery resources, housing assistance, and a hot meal in a family-friendly environment.
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▪ ​Local Mental Health & Peer Resources
▪ ​If you or someone you know needs support, connection, or advocacy, Vancouver and Clark County have robust local organizations ready to help:
▪ ​1. NAMI Southwest Washington (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
▪ ​A premier local grassroots organization offering support groups, educational classes, and stigma-reduction workshops for individuals living with mental health conditions and their families.
▫ ​Location: 2500 Main Street, Suite 120, Vancouver, WA
▫ ​Contact: (360) 695-2823
▫ ​Services: Offers drop-in resources, specific family-to-family education, and a recurring Crisis Intervention & De-escalation community training on the third Wednesday of every month.





~Amy Manley, LICSWA

Caregiver burnout can look like exhaustion, irritability, anxiety, or feeling emotionally numb. Recognizing the signs early matters. Prevention starts with boundaries, rest, support, and asking for help before reaching a breaking point. -Makayla Wilson, LICSWA

World Schizophrenia Day Awareness

Purpose: To educate the public on the reality of the condition, advocate foWorld Schizophrenia Day is observed on May 24.

It serves as a global platform to raise awareness about schizophrenia—a complex mental health condition—and to challenge the persistent socialr better mental health services, and support the roughly 24 million people worldwide living with schizophrenia.

History: The day was established by the National Schizophrenia Foundation to honor Dr. Philippe Pinel (1745–1826). Dr. Pinel was a French physician who pioneered the humane treatment of people with mental illnesses, famously advocating for the removal of chains from patients in asylums.

Understanding Schizophrenia

One of the primary goals of this day is to correct common misinformation.

MythReality"Split Personality"Schizophrenia is often confused with Dissociative Identity Disorder. It actually involves a "split" from reality, not multiple personalities."Inherently Violent"Most people with schizophrenia are not violent; they are actually more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators."Untreatable"While chronic, it is highly treatable with a combination of medication, cognitive therapy, and community support.

How to Observe the Day

Educate Yourself and Others: Share accurate resources from organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Use Social Media: Use hashtags like or to join the global conversation.

Support Organizations: Many local and international mental health charities hold fundraisers or webinars during the month of May (which is also Mental Health Awareness Month in several countries).

Practice Empathy: Listen to the stories of those with lived experience. Recovery is possible, and community support is often a critical factor in long-t

# World schizophrenia day
the stigma
health awareness

~Amy Manley, LICSWA

In therapy, we often talk about getting to live life and THRIVE. Sometimes when we’ve operated in one of the other modes for so long, we forget that things can get better.
The goal is to recognize where you are and get the support you need to move toward steadier ground. -Makayla Wilson, LICSWA