SACRAMENTO (KUSI) – California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly plans to meet with mental health leaders to push the Legislature to pass youth mental and behavioral health programs with Gov. Newsom’s May Revision.
Dr. Ghaly plans to stress the issue with Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health Dr. Tom Insel, and youth mental health advocate and student Sara Faraj.
The pandemic has had devastating effects on children and youth, Dr. Ghaly said, adding that without action, untreated anxiety, depression, psychosis, and new substance use disorders will continue to grow.
They will be urging more attention to be given to prevention and early intervention services, increasing the number of behavioral health professionals, supplying more crisis services and multiplying acute care services and beds.