One of the starkest indications of the mental health challenges we’re facing in Santa Barbara County is the suicide rate, especially among teens. Ninety percent of those deaths are due to an underlying mental illness. As tragic as that crisis is, it’s only one indicator of the need for additional and appropriate behavioral health care. The need continues to rise rapidly among all ages and demographics. People with less urgent, but still debilitating, problems are finding it hard to access treatment because of a shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists. Language and cultural barriers and the lingering stigma of mental health care are also impediments.
Mental health issues are more prevalent in lower-income families, but the pain of untreated illness can reach anywhere. These problems do not discriminate as to a person’s socio-economic status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, etc. Providers in the county are struggling to meet the needs of a wide variety of people experiencing mental health challenges, especially unhoused individuals, children, first responders, and those with substance abuse issues.
The Santa Barbara Foundation’s grant committee, made up of staff, trustees, and community experts, assesses need and builds capacity for mental health services. The Foundation has created a community grant program to expand organizational capacity to increase quality, timely response, and address barriers to service.
If you are interested in contributing to the solutions, we welcome your partnership and appreciate your support.
Make a Gift Behavioral Health Community Grant Program
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