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Public safety and mental health go hand-in-hand – that was the message at Wednesday’s multi-faceted public safety event at the Oceanside Star Theatre.
Oscar Ortega, founder of Live Experiences, said, “Today’s event is about bringing people together to discuss problem solving and partnerships in the language of problem solving and how to improve society through the language of mental health.”
The event was hosted by a North County organization that provides support to underserved communities. Speakers at the event discussed mental health and the barriers that prevent people from seeking help.
“In a lot of cultures, including my own, if I tell someone, ‘Hey, you need to talk to someone,’ that’s like talking to them. I’m saying bad words or insulting them,” Beto Vasquez said. .
He does community service for UC San Diego and promotes talking about mental health.
“The more we have these conversations in public, the more we align that mental health is just as important as your physical health,” Vasquez said.
Talking about mental health is one step, but having professionals in the field is another barrier, says Beatriz Villarreal, director of the Mano a Mano Foundation.
“We really need it right now … It’s hard to find someone who not only speaks Spanish, but who knows where you’re from and is culturally sensitive,” she said. “He’s someone who really understands where you’re coming from.”
Speakers shared experiences and information with the audience, including Oceanside Police Chief Fred Armijo.
“On the one hand, something like this[event]makes me want to make it something that my whole department can experience, not because I think my department needs it, but because everyone can use it,” he said. But I love seeing the interaction between people here and the connections that can happen.
Armijo’s mental health is an important topic to discuss because his class calls always have a mental health component.
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