California for mental health telephone line faces steep budget cuts

As California is fighting a A budget deficit of $ 12 billionThe telephone service managed by this country, which provides free 24/7 mental health support for thousands of residents throughout the country, may encounter deep redundancies of funding or even exclusion.

California peer performs a warm line – which is different from 911 and the federal 988 Crisis Line of Mental Health As it is intended for negative cases-it adheres to an average of 20,000 calls, texts and chats a month by people seeking emotional support and mental health resources. In May, during the month of mental health awareness, the line received more than 40,000 calls and messages.

The San Francisco Mental Health Association, or MHASF, runs the line. He received funding in 2019 during a pandemic to expand his services across the country. From 2022 to 2025, the line operates with a total budget of $ 40 million, says CEO Mark Salazar. Over the next three years, he asked for $ 15 million a year for updated financing or from $ 45 million to 2028 – with most of the money going to pay staff.

GAVIN NEWSOM’s last budget plan, however $ 5 million in 2025-26 and then For the line. As the funding was not initially included in the governor’s budget proposal in January, the money “reflects an increase,” according to Newsom spokesman Elana Ross.

But with an annual budget of $ 5 million, Salazar says the service may need to reduce its staff from 160 to 20. The telephone service estimates that it saves Californians millions of dollars for healthcare costs by reducing visits to calls in the emergency room or emergency care, while releasing resources for emergency reactors.

Lori Padila, a central valley resident who has worked on the line as an advisor for more than two years, says that most calls during her change at night are from people who experience loneliness, anxiety, panic attacks or chronic pain.

• Padila: “In fact, I called the warm line several times and went to the MHASF support groups. The two of them really changed my life … It was just so refreshing to have someone in the other end of the phone that took care and actually listened.”

Line Financing Wars come at a time when California police departments are Scaling your own responses to calls for mental healthS In addition to the lack of a state budget, California Mental Health Services are in danger Due to the bowel congress proposal Medicaid costs with $ 700 billionS