Program Updates
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Department has postponed all in person trainings and events, including SLO County Friday Night Live programming. Since late March, all FNL programming has gone virtual, with individual and countywide chapter meetings, events, and challenges.
With SLO County schools beginning the year with distance learning, Friday Night Live will continue to host virtual chapter meetings. To get more information about FNL at your school, please view the Programs page, and sign up for your school's Remind updates. Thank you for your understanding at this time!
Get the latest news and information about COVID-19 in SLO County from www.readyslo.org
For information about Behavioral Health Services during the Coronavirus outbreak, visit www.slocounty.ca.gov/BHCovid19
For information about San Luis Obispo County schools, visit the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education website.
Stress, Coping, and Resiliency
As COVID-19 continues to affect our day-to-day activities, people may be feeling fear, burnout, frustration, and hopelessness. Students especially may experience these feelings, as they are coping with not being able to see friends, play sports, or participate in their regular extra curricular activities.
FNL wants to remind our students that they are strong, resilient, and capable. Know that you are not alone, and that you have people to support you. Below you will find several activities for mindfulness and stress reduction that can help calm your mind and center your body. While we may not know what the next day will bring, we can be sure that this time will pass. Until then, we're in this together.
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise
Use this activity to help manage racing thoughts, stress, or anxiety and ground yourself in the moment! Take a moment and write down 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste.
Deep Belly Breathing
Deep belly breathing has a variety of benefits physically and emotionally. Take a few minutes to get in a comfortable position, relax any tense muscles, and close your eyes (if comfortable). Place your hands on your belly and slowly begin to inhale through your nose for 3-5 slow seconds. Then begin to breathe out through your mouth for the same amount of time. Notice your belly rise and fall with your breath. Repeat this process several times until you feel relaxed.
RAIN Activity
Throughout life, we will experience many ‘storms.’ During difficult times it’s completely normal to experience a large range of emotions. Use this activity to help you reflect on how you are feeling and how you can change your perception.
If you are in crisis, please call the SLO Hotline at (800)783-0607. You may also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HELLO to 741-741.
To begin behavioral health services, please call the access line at (800) 838-1381.