February 2020

Some of my colleagues and I have developed a process and program called, "Design Thinking Suicide Prevention," that we have been presenting at mental health conferences . The reason for it is that we have discovered that certain words scare too many people who don't have to deal with mental issues in their family (although that number is becoming smaller and smaller). In fact, just the word "mental" causes people to run for the hills unless it directly affects them or a family member. Design...

By Kyra Haas, Visalia Times-Delta, February 3, 2020 Late-morning coffee-seekers at one Visalia Starbucks Saturday might have walked away with more than a grande cup o' Joe. Starbucks and Clubhouse Visalia held their first "Time to Talk" from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning just outside the coffee shop near the corner of Goshen Avenue and Akers Street. The monthly event is aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues while providing wellness-focused activities and connections to local...

By Chuck Ingoglia (Guest), Cal Matters, February 2, 2020 It’s time to change the conversation in health care. Rather than asking, “What is wrong with this person?” medical professionals might ask, “What happened to this person?” California Surgeon General Nadine Burke Harris and an increasing number of practitioners are changing the conversation because they recognize that trauma early in life—child separation, racism, neglect, abuse or poverty, for instance—can manifest itself years later...

By Diana Hembree, San Francisco Bay View, February 1, 2020 If you experienced severe hardship as a child, are you more likely to have children with behavior or mental health problems? The short answer is yes. A recent UCLA study shows that the children of parents with four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as abuse or neglect, are twice as likely to develop ADHD, which makes it more likely children will become hyperactive and unable to pay attention or control their...

Formation of task force follows Governor Newsom’s release of 2020-21 State Budget Proposal The Governor’s Budget includes $45.1 million General Fund for a Behavioral Health Quality Improvement Program to build counties’ behavioral health service delivery systems in preparation for the launch of Medi-Cal Healthier California for All FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: January 21, 2020 CONTACT: (916) 654-3304 SACRAMENTO – Following the unveiling of his budget proposal with its robust focus on...