WASHINGTON, DC – September 16, 2015 – Today the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) announced the selection of Active Minds to engage California’s students in Prevention and Early Intervention Efforts on California’s Higher Education campuses statewide. Joint CalMHSA and Active Minds efforts will provide California’s students with suicide awareness and prevention exhibits, young adult personal mental health storytelling, and peer-led awareness and trainings throughout California’s college and university campuses and support campuses in reaching out to diverse students including veterans and LGBTQ individuals. .
Funded by the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63), CalMHSA is a statewide leader that serves California counties and cities in the dynamic delivery of mental health and supportive services through Prevention and Early Intervention efforts aimed at improving student mental health, preventing suicides, and reducing stigma of mental health challenges and resulting discrimination.
“This is an unprecedented opportunity for Active Minds to expand our work with young adults for mental health early intervention and prevention in California,” said Active Minds founder and Executive Director Alison Malmon. “We are overjoyed to be working with CalMHSA to foster the leadership of California’s student mental health activists as they tackle their generation’s social justice issue.”
“California is a national leader in addressing early signs of mental illness, preventing suicide, improving access to early services, and addressing stigma and discrimination related to mental illness,” said Sara Abelson, Vice President for Student Health and Wellness at Active Minds. “We are proud to take part in their historic investment in these efforts with funding from Proposition 63, The Mental Health Services Act, and hope to see other states following suit.”
More than half of mental health issues begin by age 14, yet most youth don’t receive help during this critical period even though research shows treatment is effective and with support these young people are more likely to be successful in school and as adults. CalMHSA’s Prevention and Early Intervention programs strategically target young people to connect them with preventative services and set them on a lifetime path of mental wellness.
““CalMHSA is proud to partner with Active Minds, who has a proven track record of civic engagement and empowerment on college campuses across the country,” said CalMHSA Executive Director Dr. Wayne Clark. “We look forward to working with them to address mental health challenges early on, and to prevent young people with mental health needs from ever reaching the point of crisis as adults. By connecting young people with help and support early on, we can make sure they succeed in school, stay out of trouble and strive to reach their full potential.”
About Active Minds, Inc.
Active Minds is the leading national nonprofit organization working to engage the student voice to change the conversation about mental health. Through a rapidly growing network of more than 400 student-led chapters at high schools, colleges and universities, Active Minds empowers students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage help-seeking. Active Minds has chapters in 45 states plus Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, Australia, Canada and Ecuador. Active Minds is a national nonprofit headquartered in Washington D.C. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @Active_Minds. For more information visit: www.ActiveMinds.org.
About California Mental Health Services Authority
The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) is an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. Prevention and Early Intervention programs implemented by CalMHSA are funded by counties through the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63). Prop. 63 provides the funding and framework needed to expand mental health services to previously underserved populations and all of California’s diverse communities. For more information visit: www.calmhsa.org.
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