Orange County marks Mental Health Awareness Month as supervisors highlight youth needs and new school funding
May 07, 2024 | Orange County, California
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The Orange County Board of Supervisors opened its May 7 meeting with a proclamation declaring May Mental Health Awareness Month and a series of remarks urging community action on mental‑health prevention and early intervention.
Vice Chair Doug Chaffee cited findings from the county’s Condition of Children report that showed an 8.5% increase in 11th‑grade students reporting depression‑related feelings and said suicide is now the leading cause of death for children 10 to 14 in Orange County. Chaffee urged residents to seek help and pointed listeners to county resources.
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento emphasized the need to destigmatize mental health, noting disparities in service use among Latino residents and describing local partnerships. He told the board that CalOptima approved $25,000,000 to expand behavioral‑health services across all 29 Orange County school districts and said telehealth behavioral services are now available for CalOptima members.
Dr. Veronica Kelly, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency Behavioral Health Services, encouraged residents to listen to one another, connect socially and use available supports. She reiterated that help is available regardless of insurance and provided crisis and information lines, including 988 and OC Links (855) and the county portal ocnavigator.org.
The board’s ceremonial recognition included county staff and community partners who were wearing green in support of the awareness campaign. The presentation preceded the business portion of the board’s agenda.
The board took no formal policy action on the proclamation itself; supervisors directed attention to existing county and school‑district programs and resource links and highlighted the need for continued outreach and coordination across agencies.
Vice Chair Doug Chaffee cited findings from the county’s Condition of Children report that showed an 8.5% increase in 11th‑grade students reporting depression‑related feelings and said suicide is now the leading cause of death for children 10 to 14 in Orange County. Chaffee urged residents to seek help and pointed listeners to county resources.
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento emphasized the need to destigmatize mental health, noting disparities in service use among Latino residents and describing local partnerships. He told the board that CalOptima approved $25,000,000 to expand behavioral‑health services across all 29 Orange County school districts and said telehealth behavioral services are now available for CalOptima members.
Dr. Veronica Kelly, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency Behavioral Health Services, encouraged residents to listen to one another, connect socially and use available supports. She reiterated that help is available regardless of insurance and provided crisis and information lines, including 988 and OC Links (855) and the county portal ocnavigator.org.
The board’s ceremonial recognition included county staff and community partners who were wearing green in support of the awareness campaign. The presentation preceded the business portion of the board’s agenda.
The board took no formal policy action on the proclamation itself; supervisors directed attention to existing county and school‑district programs and resource links and highlighted the need for continued outreach and coordination across agencies.
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