Having a father who had schizophrenia made a huge impact on my perspective as it relates to mental health. He was untreated and self-medicated for most of his adult life, and state laws made it difficult for us, as his family members, to advocate for him. He ended up homeless and sadly passed away at the young age of 59 while living on the streets. But the story doesn’t end there. My experience with my dad has in many ways shaped who I am, and as a result, informs many of my decisions as a Placer County Supervisor.

May is Mental Health Matters Month. Nationwide, more than half of adults with a mental illness and 60% of youth with major depression do not receive mental health treatment. We can help change that!

Placer County provides mental health services, assisted outpatient treatment and mental health crisis triage services. In Roseville, at 101 Cirby Hills Drive, people in need can access the Lotus Behavioral Health Crisis Center—a new, voluntary urgent care center for residents experiencing a mental health crisis. Lotus is a short-term place to stay, designed to provide an appropriate level of care for those experiencing a mental health crisis. At the Lotus Center, individuals can decompress for up to two days in a calm environment and be treated with dignity by trained clinicians. Together, they work to address the immediate crisis and create a plan to access needed wrap-around services before discharging any patients. That includes housing needs, social services or substance use treatment.

Organizations such as Lighthouse Counseling and Family Resource Center (full disclosure, I sit on their Board of Directors) provide child therapy, grief counseling and support groups for depression, emotion management and more.

Locally, residents are encouraged to call their health provider or call the county’s 24-hour hotline, 1-888-886-5401, to connect with mental health services. The county also offers walk-in clinics several days a week.

I know it’s difficult to ask for help at times, but I want to assure you that a simple phone call is all you need to get started. These services are lifesaving and my hope is they keep the fabric of many families in our county together.

On another topic, I continue to be engaged on the Titan I Missile Site issue in Lincoln. I was concerned when I learned that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may not allow for audience questions at its May 31 town hall meeting in Sun City. I reached out to see if they might be willing reconsider, however, as of today I have not received a response. My goal is to advocate for you as concerned community members, while partnering with the Army Corps where possible. I will continue to respectfully press for transparency with the public, the prompt attention to the contamination and a reasonable timeline for the appropriate cleanup.

Shanti Landon
Placer County Supervisor, District 2