(a) The State Department of Health Care Services, in coordination with counties, shall establish a program designed to prevent mental illnesses from becoming severe and disabling. The program shall emphasize improving timely access to services for underserved populations.(b) The program shall include the following components: (1) Outreach to families, employers, primary care health care providers, and others to recognize the early signs of potentially severe and disabling mental illnesses.(2) Access and linkage to medically necessary care provided by county mental health programs for children with serious mental illness, as defined in Section 5600.3, and for adults and seniors with severe mental illness, as defined in Section 5600.3, as early in the onset of these conditions as practicable.(3) Reduction in stigma associated with either being diagnosed with a mental illness or seeking mental health services.(4) Reduction in discrimination against people with mental illness.(c) The program shall include mental health services similar to those provided under other programs that are effective in preventing mental illnesses from becoming severe, and shall also include components similar to programs that have been successful in reducing the duration of untreated severe mental illnesses and assisting people in quickly regaining productive lives.(d) The program shall emphasize strategies to reduce the following negative outcomes that may result from untreated mental illness: (3) School failure or dropout.(7) Removal of children from their homes.(e) Prevention and early intervention funds may be used to broaden the provision of community-based mental health services by adding prevention and early intervention services or activities to these services, including prevention and early intervention strategies that address mental health needs, substance misuse or substance use disorders, or needs relating to cooccurring mental health and substance use services.(f) If amendments to the Mental Health Services Act are approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, this section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2026, and as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.Ca. Welf. and Inst. Code § 5840
Amended by Stats 2023 ch 790 (SB 326),s 49, eff. 4/17/2024, op. Approved in Proposition 1 at the March 5, 2024, election. Operative January 1, 2025, pursuant to Sec. 117 of Proposition 1..Amended by Stats 2021 ch 584 (AB 638),s 1, eff. 1/1/2022.Chapter heading added by Stats 2018 ch 843 (SB 1004),s 2, eff. 1/1/2019.Amended by Stats 2013 ch 23 (AB 82),s 48, eff. 6/27/2013.Amended by Stats 2012 ch 23 (AB 1467),s 59, eff. 6/27/2012.Added by Proposition 63, enacted by the people of the State of California November 2, 2004, eff. 1/1/2005.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.