Santa Cruz, CA – To commemorate Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Assemblymember Gail Pellerin will recognize 12 upstanders in the mental health field as Assembly District 28’s 2025 Mental Health Heroes at her annual public health resource fair on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on the lawn at 701 Ocean St, Santa Cruz.
This annual event, which rotates to different locations throughout the district each year, is part of Assemblymember Pellerin’s ongoing commitment to destigmatizing mental illness and raising awareness around suicide prevention. Community members nominated each honoree for their outstanding care, compassion, and advocacy.
2025 Mental Health Heroes:
- Open space advocate, Garnetta Annable
- NAMI Santa Cruz County Board President, Michael Beebe
- Army veteran and Operation Freedom Paws founder, Mary Cortani
- Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired Volunteer, Beverly Heninger
- Los Gatos High School mental health advocate, Sophia Krish
- Department of Veterans Affairs Integrated Care Section Chief, Dr. Delilah Noronha
- Horse Sense Education and Advocacy founder, Kristin Praly
- Retired bilingual teacher and dedicated volunteer, Melody Randel
- Director of Clinical Services at Front St. Inc., Emilio Rubalcava Jr., LMFT
- Fitness entrepreneur, retired NHL player, and mental health advocate, Devin Setoguchi
- KSQD’s creator and host of State of Mind, Debra Sloss, LMFT
- Nor Cal Carpenters Union Life Maintenance Program
Santa Cruz NAMI Board President and 2025 Mental Health Hero Michael Beebe shared his thoughts on the event, "I’m deeply honored to be recognized by the Assemblymember, and I’m excited to see our community’s network of health services come together on one lawn.”
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin emphasized the importance of recognizing these leaders and uplifting local wellness resources, stating: “I am proud to honor these Mental Health Heroes who remind us every day that prevention and compassion save lives. Their dedication helps break down stigma, connect people with care, and build a stronger, healthier community across Assembly District 28.”
About Assemblymember Pellerin
Assemblymember Pellerin represents the 28th Assembly District, which includes portions of Santa Cruz County and Santa Clara County, including the cities of Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz, the San Lorenzo Valley, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, communities within San Jose, and the Town of Los Gatos. As Chair of the Assembly Elections committee, Pellerin brings 27 years of experience as a Santa Cruz County chief elections official. She is also a member of the Appropriations, Business and Professions, Natural Resources, and Privacy and Consumer Protection Standing Committees, and Chair of the Select Committee on California’s Mental Health Crisis.
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