Gov. Gavin Newsom has labeled improving the mental health system a personal priority. Here’s what he told CALmatters in the spring of 2018:
On the January of his inauguration, he released a proposed budget including:
- Early detection and treatment of early stage psychosis: $25 million
- Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences, which have been strongly linked with physical and mental illness: $45 million
- Mental health counseling at University of California campuses: $5.3 million
- Programs to expand the mental health workforce: $50 million
- Training law enforcement on de-escalating encounters with people in psychiatric crisis: $20 million
- Shelters and permanent supportive housing for homeless people with serious mental illness: $500 million
- Expand “whole-person care” programs to offer intensive services to people with serious mental illness: $100 million
Newsom announced in late April his plans to soon name a mental health czar, who would be in charge of guiding state mental health policy.