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

A row of tents under an overpass in east Los Angeles on Nov. 17, 2021.

WhatMatters

How California fails its most vulnerable residents

Give to CalMatters today and your gift will be doubled! Your support helps keep our nonprofit journalism free and accessible to all Californians. Donate now. If the pandemic made one thing clear in California, it’s that the state often fails to protect its most vulnerable residents. That was the takeaway from an emotional eight-hour hearing […]

By Emily Hoeven • December 16, 2021

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

Health

Stranded in the ER: Can California change its treatment of kids in crisis?

A controversial bill before Gov. Gavin Newsom would fund crisis residential treatment facilities for children on Medi-Cal, steering more kids away from hospital emergency rooms.

By Jocelyn Wiener • September 27, 2021

Health

Call 988: California finds $20 million to help pay for new crisis hotline

After a push from advocates, California officials agreed to help fund a 988 network — a "robust statewide call center" for mental health.

By Jocelyn Wiener • September 2, 2021

Commentary

For many workers, work is a threat to well-being

The use of automation technologies to track and monitor safety or productivity is widespread in supply-chain management, and it is now seeping into grocery stores, other retail settings, and even knowledge work. That is bad news for workers.

By Guest Commentary • August 30, 2021

Commentary

To house the homeless, California must re-imagine housing

State and local governments must change housing law and zoning rules to move toward permanently housing unsheltered Californians.

By Guest Commentary • August 27, 2021

Commentary

Pandemic brings extra need for mental health care resources

Assembly Bill 638 increases funding for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. It will help counties reach people in the early stages of illness and prevent mental health problems from worsening, and could ease the burden on family members and caretakers.

By Guest Commentary • August 26, 2021

Commentary

Smaller classes benefit students most in need

Critics underestimate the importance of class size reduction because they don’t understand the challenges of our profession. Hiring teachers and other professionals to help students directly serves students.

By Guest Commentary • August 3, 2021

Commentary

Britney Spears conservatorship saga is only one facet of a complex issue

Californians must change the debate about conservatorship and focus on the people and their families who are waiting for real reform. People like my son, Danny, should be the face of that reform, not Britney Spears.

By Guest Commentary • July 20, 2021

Rafael Suarez tries to restart the generator during a hot day in Los Angeles, on July 9, 2021. As part of their plans to reduce homelessness, Republican recall candidates are calling for a clean-up of the state. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

CalMatters en Español

¿Es la falta de vivienda el punto débil de Newsom durante el proceso de destitución? Los republicanos piensan que sí

Read this article in English. En resumen Los que proponen la destitución del gobernador de California ven a Newsom como vulnerable en este tema, pero algunos expertos y defensores dicen que sus ideas podrían empeorar la vida de las personas sin hogar. El proceso de destitución de Gavin Newsom puede haber cobrado impulso como un referéndum […]

By Manuela Tobias • July 16, 2021

Politics

Is homelessness Newsom’s weak point in recall? Republicans are counting on it

Challengers in the California recall see Newsom as vulnerable on the issue, but some experts and advocates say their ideas could worsen life for homeless people.

By Manuela Tobias • July 15, 2021