Mental Health

CalMatters and CatchLight are partnering on a three-year initiative to tell powerful stories about mental health in California. We’ll spotlight solutions, personal stories, investigate systems, and bring greater awareness to this historically stigmatized topic. This initiative is supported by:

Enlight Foundation
California Health Care Foundation
Flourish Impact Fund
Lisa Stone Pritzker Family Foundation
Resonance Philanthropies
Sarlo Family Foundation
Sand Hill Foundation
Stuart Foundation

Students at Stege Elementary School complete classwork using tablets in Richmond on Feb. 6, 2023. Photo by Shelby Knowles for CalMatters

Commentary

As lawmakers struggle to act, California schools turn to the courts to combat social media

In March, the San Mateo County School Board became the first California school district to sue social media companies for their role in the youth mental health crisis. As state lawmakers struggle to overcome the power and influence of tech giants, local schools are now looking to the courts for help.

By Julie Lynem • May 11, 2023

Health

California may change its mental health funding. Why that might cut some services.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing to shift more money to housing severely mentally ill homeless people. Some officials at mental health organizations fear that funding will come from cuts to other services they provide.

By Kristen Hwang • April 3, 2023

WhatMatters

California mental health funding may get overhauled

With little notice given to those working closely with the Californians who would be most impacted, a proposal announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom is once again leaving advocacy groups shocked and worried. During his State of the State tour in March, the governor announced that he plans to reroute money from the 2004 voter-approved Mental […]

By Lynn La • April 3, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at San Quentin State Prison announcing that the facility will be transformed to focus on training and rehabilitation on March 17, 2023. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Commentary

Newsom displays penchant for shiny new things on California tour

California Gov. Gavin Newson shunned a traditional State of the State address this month and instead toured the state to unveil new programs for social ills.

By Dan Walters • March 26, 2023

From left, Kathleen Navales and Delphina Garcia Penrod comfort each other while honoring their ancestors inside the cemetery at the Carmel Mission in Carmel in 2015. Photo by Michael Fiala, Reuters

WhatMatters

Can a suicide hotline help California’s Native Americans?

From 2018 to 2021, 109 Native Americans took their own lives in California. Can the new national hotline help save some lives? This week in Sacramento, Assemblymember James Ramos, a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe who is the first Native American to be elected to the state Assembly, partnered with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services […]

By Lynn La • March 24, 2023

Politics

Homelessness, rehabilitation and health care: What to know about Newsom’s legacy tour

Gov. Gavin Newsom starts defining his legacy on a four-day statewide tour that focuses on priorities interrupted by crisis and the COVID pandemic, including homelessness, criminal justice and health care.

By Sameea Kamal and Alexei Koseff • March 20, 2023

WhatMatters

How much is a living wage in California?

From CalMatters California Divide reporter Jeanne Kuang: What’s one of the driving forces of poverty and inequality? When the cost of living outpaces the growth in wages. In response, California over the last two decades has raised the minimum wage every few years, as have some local governments. New state Sen. Steve Padilla, a Chula […]

By Sameea Kamal • February 13, 2023

Mental Health

Will the state’s big Medi-Cal plan really fix mental health care for low-income Californians?

A year into the rollout of CalAIM, payment details are murky and obstacles remain in finding help for Medi-Cal recipients with mental health needs.

By Jocelyn Wiener and Kristen Hwang • February 2, 2023

A student draws in class at San Antonio Elementary School in Lockwood on May 11, 2022. Photo by David Rodriguez for CalMatters/ CatchLight Local/ The Californian

Commentary

For many California children, Medi-Cal mental health services lack urgency they need

Despite recent policy changes, many California families seeking behavioral health treatment through Medi-Cal struggle to get the services they need in a timely manner. Given the scale of the emergency, state leaders must ensure these systems are sustainably resourced.

By Guest Commentary • January 19, 2023

A play area at WestCoast Children’s Clinic in Oakland on Sept. 22, 2021. The clinic serves nearly 1500 children annually, many of whom are low-income. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Commentary

No more excuses. California must prioritize children in foster care

Roughly 60,000 children are in California's foster care system. For years, state leaders have failed to make progress or increase support for them. In 2023, it must be a priority.

By Guest Commentary • January 5, 2023