Mental Health Access Project including a public awareness campaign to reduce stigma in the Latino population. - First Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center’s (FBHUCC) Mental Health Access Project will serve 80 unduplicated individuals in Stanislaus and Merced Counties with evidence-based outpatient, and clinical support services. It will also reach 12,000 individuals through a public awareness campaign aimed at reducing stigma in the Latinx community. The target service population includes (a) children and adults with mild to moderate mental health concerns and (b) Latinx and Spanish speaking population.
The California Department of Mental Health Services estimates that 14.81% of Merced County and 14.48% of Stanislaus County residents need mental health services, with only about half of individuals needing treatment receiving it from the County or other providers. Additionally, both Stanislaus and Merced Counties are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) regarding mental health. With over 50% of our service population being Latinx, and data revealing that the Latinx population suffering disproportionately from COVID-19, we cannot deny the need for services among our community members.
Services include: Counseling for all ages; Couples and family counseling; A safe space for individuals and families, peer support and on the spot counseling; Crisis interventions, psychiatric evaluations, and clinical assessments by a Board-Certified Child Psychiatrist; Referrals and linkages to community resources; and Brief medication management services (excluding controlled substances).
Clinical characteristics include: Those at risk of homelessness; Those at risk of higher levels of care including County services, hospital utilization, and interaction with the criminal justice system; The underinsured and uninsured; Those suffering from trauma; and Those with struggling with adjustments related to COVID-19. Based on our current client population, we anticipate a service population of 50% Latinx individuals, 50% youth, 30% adult caregivers, and 20% other individuals in the community.
Project objectives: 1) Increase the availability of mental health services provided in Spanish by hiring a Spanish speaking licensed behavioral health clinician. The clinician will provide trauma informed screening, assessment, diagnosis, case management, and patient-centered treatment planning and treatment delivery to people of all ages from Stanislaus & Merced Counties; 2) Increase case management services available to clients by 50% by hiring one Spanish speaking Promotora that will offer case management services as well as manage community outreach to reduce stigma and raise awareness about available services; 3) Run a radio campaign on Spanish radio stations. 30 second ads in Spanish will focus on mental health needs of populations including teens, young adults, Latinos, and parents. Ads will reduce stigma and spread awareness of counseling services available at FBHUCC and will reach at least 10,000 people.; 4) Run a print media campaign to reduce stigma that reaches over 2,000 people in Merced and Stanislaus Counties. Media will include flyers and pamphlets in both English and Spanish. Topics will include anxiety, depression, self-care, and mental health resources; 5) Provide 4 presentations to community members about mental health awareness to reduce stigma and increase awareness of resources available at FBHUCC and throughout the community. Emphasis will be placed on the effect that COVID has had on adolescent mental health and the importance of early intervention with mild to moderate mental health conditions.
