Annual event a reminder that mental health, substance use recovery takes a village
Auburn, Calif. – Even as Placer County works alongside partners to address opioid and mental health crises locally, the county’s annual ‘Recovery Happens’ event promises to be an inspiring celebration of community members who have walked the path of recovery – whether for 10 days or 10 years and beyond.
This year, Recovery Happens will take place on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Recreation Park, 123 Recreation Drive in Auburn. The annual event, drawing hundreds of people, celebrates recovery from both substance use and mental illness with inspiring speakers, resources and many activities that are fun for the whole family.
Recovery Happens coincides with several national and international awareness efforts around substance use and mental health:
September is also nationally recognized as Suicide Prevention Month. The county’s rate of death due to suicide exceeds the state average.
Recovery Happens is an inspirational, affirming event meant to demonstrate that recovery is not only possible but worth celebrating. People in recovery and their families, friends and other loved ones are encouraged to attend. Resources about treatment and recovery programs will be available. In addition to informational booths, the event will also include free food, music, games for kids and more activities. There will also be a free raffle.
“By coming together at this event, we not only help break the stigma around substance use and mental health recovery but also show that recovery is a journey that families and friends can all walk together,” said Amy Ellis, director of Placer County’s Adult System of Care. “Every story of recovery is a story of hope.”
The event is sponsored by many community-based organizations and Placer County behavioral health and supported by the Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board.
September is nationally recognized as Recovery Month, and will be discussed at Placer’s Sept. 10 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Aug. 31 was International Overdose Awareness Day. Placer County lost 69 residents to overdose in 2023.