Oct. 31, 2024

For Immediate Release

Redwood City – In a new report, San Mateo County Health’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) division reflects on two decades of service transformation thanks to funding from the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).

Approved as Proposition 63 by California voters in November 2004, the MHSA has provided supported the expansion of programs serving persons of all ages living with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders and their families via a 1 percent tax on personal income over one million dollars. In San Mateo County, BHRS has allocated $476 million in investments to reduce the duration of untreated mental illness, fight stigma and discrimination and increase the number of individuals receiving public mental health and substance use services.

Focused on three priorities – community services and supports (receiving 76% of funding), prevention and early intervention (19 percent) and innovation (5 percent) – the MHSA has funded 66 programs that contribute to housing expansions, school-based interventions, workforce development, community-based services and more. Over the past 5 years alone, MHSA programs have served 4,275 clients in direct treatment programs and over 6,555 clients in prevention and early intervention programs in the county.

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