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.