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mental health

Update: Man who started fire at his Modesto home to harm himself is in custody, uninjured

in Accident/Community/Mental Health

Nearly six hours after Modesto police responded to a report of a man having a mental health crisis and threatening suicide at his east Modesto home, he was in custody, uninjured and receiving care.

The incident began about noon, Lt. Felton Payne said. A man alone in his home on the 2400 block of East Orangeburg Avenue said he had a propane tank in his garage that he planned to blow up, authorities said.

Continue reading on Modesto Bee

Governor Newsom signs CARE Court Into Law; Glenn County among the first cohort

in Community/Health/News

With more than 100,000 people living on California Streets, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation Wednesday enacting CARE Court to provide individuals with severe mental health and substance use disorders the care and services they need to get healthy.

“With overwhelming support from the Legislature and stakeholders across California, CARE Court will now become a reality in our state, offering hope and a new path forward for thousands of struggling Californians and empowering their loved ones to help,” said Governor Newsom.

Continue reading on KRCRTV

Medi-Cal coverage expands to all Californians 50 years and older, regardless of immigration status

in Health/Mental Health

A new law has expanded Medi-Cal coverage to all Californians who are 50 years and older, regardless of their immigration status.

The Older Adult Expansion initiative went into effect Sunday, extending medical, dental, and mental health care to all Californians ages 50 years and older. Other Medi-Cal eligibility rules, including income limits, still apply, but immigration status is not among those rules.

Continue Reading on CBS Los Angeles

California teachers train to spot mental health warning signs

in Mental Health

Since the pandemic started, experts have warned of a mental health crisis facing American children that is now visibly playing out at schools across the country.

Benito Luna-Herrera, a 7th grade social studies teacher in Southern California, tells of middle school students whose post-pandemic depression led them to thoughts of suicide. Other educators say they have never seen so much school violence, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and suicide ideation.

The silver lining in Luna-Herrera’s case is that special training helped him know what to look for and how to respond to signs of a mental emergency. He is among a small but growing number of California teachers and school staff to take a course called Youth Mental Health First Aid. It teaches adults how to spot warning signs of mental health risks and substance abuse in children, and how to prevent a tragedy.

Continue Reading on KTLA

The holidays can be difficult for those dealing with mental illness

in Mental Health/People

The holidays are meant to be filled with joy, but they can also be stressful and challenging for those battling mental illness.

A study conducted by the National Alliance of Mental Illness found that 64 percent of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse.

“For many people the holiday season is not always the most wonderful time of the year,” said NAMI medical director Ken Duckworth.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Survey: Decrease in student substance abuse; increase in mental health issues

in Mental Health/Students

Turlock Unified School District recently received the results of the California School Climate, Health and Learning Survey which showed students participating in less substance abuse compared to two years ago, however, more students experienced chronic sadness or hopelessness.

“I’m happy to see the decrease in substance abuse. In some situations, it’s almost double and I think it speaks to those smaller learning environments that we know are necessary and I’m grateful students are finding that safe space to meet their needs,” said Superintendent Dana Trevethan.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Valley Mental Health Services Receive Funds

in Health/News/People

Earlier this month, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) announced he has secured $9 million in federal funds for mental health services across the Central Valley. Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will receive $4 million. The Alliance for Community Wellness (La Familia) which spans Stanislaus, Alameda, and Merced counties will receive $5 million. The grants will be used to expand youth mental health programming in 17 school districts and at least 22 schools across the Valley, hire 12 new professionals in Turlock, serve 800 underserved individuals in Stanislaus County, and more. The grants were funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Community Mental Health Centers Grant program.

Continue Reading on Riverbank News

Turlock mental health center receives $1 million in federal grant funding

in Health/News

After being pinpointed for federal funding by Rep. Josh Harder and the House Appropriations Committee earlier this year, one Turlock nonprofit will soon be able to provide even more mental health services thanks to additional grant revenue announced by the Congressman’s office this week.

In May, Harder named First Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center in Turlock as one of 10 community projects the Congressman submitted to the Appropriations Committee for funding consideration. Harder requested about $300,000 so that the nonprofit organization could hire a Spanish-speaking behavioral health clinician and a Spanish-speaking administrative employee, as well as create a mental health publicity campaign to help raise awareness in underserved communities. 

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

High school mental health clubs let stressed students know they’re not crazy, not alone

in News

Nearly the entire first year of Dzifa Ackuayi’s high school experience was through distance learning. Transitioning to in-person classes, the Modesto High sophomore said, has been stressful, overwhelming and “a bit awkward.” It hasn’t been easy, either, for students who started high school traditionally, were thrust into learning from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic and now are returning to campuses.

On top of upended routines, students report feeling nervous they’re behind academically and apprehensive about their safety because of the spread of the delta variant. After a more than a year of trauma and stress provoked by distance learning, the adjustment back to school can take a further toll on students’ mental health.

Continue Reading on The Modesto Bee

Mental Health Training For Student Leaders

in Education/Health

The Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE), in partnership with the California Department of Education, NAMI California and NAMI Stanislaus will host a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) High School Training for student leaders and club advisers on Thursday, March 5 at the Martin G. Petersen Event Center, 720 12th St., Modesto. During the all-day event, students and staff will learn the ins-and-outs of running a successful school club. NAMI on Campus High School Clubs are student-led clubs that promote mental health awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness through engaging activities and educational events, including resource and activity fairs. Students and advisers from the following high schools are slated to participate: Patterson, Oakdale, Ceres, Central Valley, Hughson, Modesto, Gregori and Turlock.

“As a high school junior, I have noticed a high prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among my peers,” said Avni Parmar, a junior at Gregori High School. “Unfortunately, mental health is not an easy topic to discuss. NAMI on Campus is particularly crucial because receiving such wellness help and resources directly from peers will be better accepted by students. I hope to further raise awareness to a larger scale to students at all of our district and county schools.”

Continue Reading on Oakdale Leader

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