Santa Barbara City College Shines Light on Mental Health Awareness Month, Joins Countywide Effort

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 4, 2026Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is joining the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness, county residents, businesses, organizations, and community partners in recognizing May as Mental Health Month by participating in the annual Light Up Green. The SBCC Board of Trustees recognized Mental Health Awareness Month with a resolution at their public board meeting on April 23 to formally acknowledge and build awareness. 

We are Lighting up SBCC’s Cliff, Schott, and Wake campuses with Green as a part of a county wide initiative to raise mental health awareness during the month of May,” shared SBCC Mental Health Counselor Lacey Peters, M.A. LMFT. “To further awareness, SBCC is hosting a Mental Health Awareness Event with the Active Minds Club to Destigmatize Mental Health Care on May 6th at 5:30 p.m. at SBCC West Campus BC Forum.”

The campaign joins efforts to create More Good Days Together, which is the 2026 national theme for Mental Health Month. 

Throughout the month of May, landmarks, buildings, homes, and businesses across Santa
Barbara County will shine green (the official color of mental health awareness), at SBCC the Student Services Building and buildings at Wake and Schott campuses (pictured above) join the effort. 

This year, more than 150 locations throughout Santa Barbara County are participating in the campaign, demonstrating countywide support for mental wellness, participating organizations include; Cottage Health, Dignity Health –Marian Regional Medical Center, CenCal Health, and Paseo Nuevo. Returning participants include the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Santa Barbara Airport, Direct Relief, and many more community landmarks and organizations. To see a full list of local buildings lighting up, click here.

There are several events happening countywide, including SBCC’s “Combating the Stigma of Mental Health on May 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the SBCC West Campus BC Forum.Additional events include: 

EVENT DETAILS
Combating The Stigma of Mental Health
Where: SBCC’s BC Forum, West Cliff Campus, 721 Cliff Dr.
When: May 6, 5:30 p.m.
Parking: Complimentary anywhere on West Cliff Campus during the length of the event.
About SBCC
Established in 1909, Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is one of the oldest community colleges in California. The district consists of SBCC’s main campus on Santa Barbara’s beachfront coast, two separate campuses for its School of Extended Learning programs, as well as a Cosmetology school. The college offers a range of associate degree, certificate and transfer programs and is recognized by the Department of Education as an official Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
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