WE WILL BRING THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE ON CALIFORNIA'S MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS TO ORDER I WANT TO
WELCOME EVERYONE. UM AND TWO FOR
TO OUR SECOND OF THREE SCHEDULED
HEARINGS. UM ON THE MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS. OUR THIRD HEARING
WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY.
JUNE 7TH. FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO
PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENT
VIA PHONE. YOU MAY DO SO BY
CALLING 877. 692 8957. AND THE
PUBLIC ACCESS CODE IS 131126.
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE CONDUCT
IT AT THE END OF THE HEARING. OF
COURSE, THIS IS A BUSY DAY IN
SACRAMENTO. BUT NO DAY CAN BE SO
BUSY. THAT WE DO NOT CONTINUE TO
ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS. SO TODAY WE'RE FOCUSING
ON LEARNING THE UNIQUE MENTAL
HEALTH NEEDS OF THE RICH AND
DIVERSE POPULATIONS OF
CALIFORNIA. CALIFORNIA IS HOME
TO ALMOST 40 MILLION PEOPLE. WHO
ARE BLACK, WHITE, LATINO, ASIAN
AND PACIFIC ISLANDER NATIVE
AMERICAN L G B T Q. A ARE. THOSE
WITH DISABILITIES. UM AND OF
COURSE, ALSO OUR SENIOR
POPULATION. THEREFORE WE MUST
MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A
COOKER COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH
WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPING OUR
MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY. WE
LEARNED QUITE UM. FORCEFULLY
WHEN WE TRY TO DO A COOKIE
CUTTER APPROACH. AND DO THE
THINGS THAT WERE MOST EXPEDIENT
. WHEN IT CAME TO COVID 19. WE
BEGAN TO SEE GROSS DISPARITIES
BEGIN TO FORM. AND VARIOUS
COMMUNITIES, AND SO WE MUST MAKE
SURE THAT WE LEARN FROM THOSE
MISTAKES. UM, AND MAKING SURE
THAT WE TAKE OUR TIME. TO REACH
OUT TO SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES AND
MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AS
WELL. WE KNOW THAT 25% OF
AFRICAN AMERICANS SEEK MENTAL
HEALTH TREATMENT COMPARED TO 40%
OF OUR WHITE BROTHERS AND
SISTERS. WE KNOW THAT THEY
SUFFER UNEQUAL ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE. AND WHICH IS A MAJOR
CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS DISPARITY.
ABOUT ONE THIRD OF ASIAN PACIFIC
ISLANDER ADULTS REPORTED
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS. WE ALSO
KNOW THAT, UM THE ODDS OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS WERE
INCREASED AMONG ADULTS WHO WERE
FEMALE. TRANS AND NON BINARY AND
ALSO THOSE WHO ARE OF THE AGE 18
TO 44. APPROXIMATELY 8% OF THE L
G B T Q. PLUS INDIVIDUALS AND
NEARLY 27% OF TRANSGENDER
INDIVIDUALS REPORT BEING DENIED
NEEDED HEALTHCARE OUTRIGHT.
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ARE SEVERELY LIMITED BY THE
RURAL, ISOLATED LOCATIONS,
PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE NATIVE
AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. WHERE 2%
OF FEMALES AND 12% OF MALES
REPORTED HAVING ATTEMPTED
SUICIDE. WELL 5% HAS SERIOUS
THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE IN THE PAST
YEAR. AND THEN WE KNOW THAT
ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES REPORT
EXPERIENCING FREQUENT MENTAL
HEALTH DISTRESS. I'M ALMOST FIVE
TIMES AS OFTEN AS ADULTS WITHOUT
DISABILITIES. SO THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS
THOSE ISSUES AND HELP FORMULATE
POLICIES. THAT ARE EFFECTIVE IN
BOTH THE NEAR TERM AND LONG
TERM. AND HELP CALIFORNIA'S LIVE
MORE MEANINGFUL AND PROSPEROUS
LIVES. IT IS INDEED AN HONOR TO
SERVE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS
COMMITTEE, AND I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO TAKING ACTION IN A
BIPARTISAN MANNER TO MEET THIS
URGENT NEED. I WILL NOW TURN IT
OVER TO MY DEAR COLLEAGUE ON
THIS COMMITTEE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GAIL PELLERIN SERVING AS OUR
VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR
CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP TO PULL THESE
HEARINGS TOGETHER AND HIS STAFF
I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME
AND EFFORT TO DO THIS AND THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THOSE
WHO ARE LISTENING IN I JUST WANT
TO SHARE A LITTLE STORY. I GOT A
TEXT, MY FRIEND. YESTERDAY. AND
HIS WIFE'S GOOD FRIENDS. HUSBAND
HAD DIED BY SUICIDE. AND HIS
TROUBLES WERE KNOWN. BUT THEY
WERE NOT SHARED. BY HIS FAMILY
BY HIS WIFE. AND THE FAMILY HAS
BEEN TRYING MIGHTILY SENT HIS
DEATH TO MASK HOW HE DIED. I HAD
THE SAME EXPERIENCE IN MY FAMILY
WHEN MY HUSBAND DIED BY SUICIDE
IN NOVEMBER OF 2018. UH MY KIDS
DO NOT WANT TO TELL ANYBODY THAT
THEIR DAD HAD TAKEN HIS OWN
LIFE. UM THE OBITUARY THAT WAS
GOING IN THE NEWSPAPER MY HIS.
HIS FAMILY INSISTED THAT WE DO
NOT USE THE WORD SUICIDE THAT WE
DIDN'T USE THE PHRASE HE DIED
SUDDENLY. AND I REMEMBER FEELING
REALLY SUPPRESSED BY THAT
BECAUSE I WANTED TO SHARE THIS.
I WANTED TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE,
AND IT TOOK MANY, MANY MONTHS
BEFORE MY KIDS WERE EVEN ABLE TO
ADMIT THE FACT THAT THEIR DAD
HAD DIED BY SUICIDE. AND I WISH
I KNEW WHAT TO SAY. OR DO IN
THAT MOMENT OF DESPAIR OF
HOPELESSNESS. JUST STOP SOMEONE
FROM MAKING THIS FINAL DECISION.
AND ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT
ABOUT IS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP
TALKING OPENLY AND HONESTLY
ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE
AWARENESS AND TELL IT IS A
NORMAL THING FOR US TO BE
TALKING ABOUT AND REMOVING THIS
STIGMA. I WISH MY HUSBAND HAD
THE CAPABILITY OF REACHING OUT
TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SAYING
I'M NOT OKAY. I'M NOT WELL, I
NEED HELP. BUT HE WAS A
SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY IN SILICON
VALLEY, AND NO ONE NEEDS HELP
WHEN THEY'RE IN THOSE POSITIONS.
SO, UM AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THE
FACT THAT THE SHAME YOU FEEL
ABOUT WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU
ARE FEELING. IS AN EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT WAY TO LIVE. SO PEOPLE
CHOOSE THE ALTERNATIVE. I'M
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
TODAY'S HEARING. I'M A MEMBER OF
OUR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY NAMI BOARD
WORKED A LOT WITH DISABILITY
RIGHTS. UM CALIFORNIA I THINK
THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND
, UM THE SUICIDE RATES AMONG OUR
LGBT Q. I A COMMUNITY IS
DAUNTING. AND I'M JUST HERE TO
CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO LEARN TO
CONNECT. AND TO DO EVERYTHING IN
MY POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT
MENTAL HEALTH IS ON PARODY WITH
PHYSICAL HEALTH THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IT THAT'S
ACCESSIBLE. IT'S AFFORDABLE, AND
PEOPLE GET THE HELP THEY NEED TO
THRIVE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WE
ARE GOING TO JUST JUMP RIGHT
INTO OUR FIRST. UH A TESTIMONY
ON THIS PANEL, AND WE'RE GOING
TO BRING UP DISABILITY RIGHTS.
CALIFORNIA IF YOU CAN COME ON.
AND I BELIEVE CARESS. YOU HAVE
BEEN DOING QUITE THE TRAVELS
RIGHT THERE. IT'S JUST FINE.
YES. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR AH! ALL THE LOGISTICS AND
GETTING HERE. AND YOU MAY BEGIN
WHEN YOU'RE READY. OKAY, SO THE
MIC IS ALREADY ON? YES. GOOD
THANK YOU. YES, I'M I DON'T
THINK THAT I'M JET LAGGED YET,
BUT I DID COME IN LAST NIGHT
FROM LONDON, ENGLAND. SO THE
THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
ARE ACTUALLY INTERNATIONAL AS
WELL. YEAH. OKAY SO THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S JACKSON AND
MEMBERS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
. MY NAME IS CARESS MYRICK AND
I'M A MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE AND
NEWLY APPOINTED BOARD MEMBER TO
DISABILITY RIGHTS, CALIFORNIA
SINCE WE'RE PROVIDING TESTIMONY
ON DEFINING MENTAL HEALTH AND
ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
, ACTUALLY WANT TO START WITH
THE STIGMA THAT OCCURS IN THESE
VERY HEARING ROOMS OF OUR STATE
CAPITAL WITH OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND WITH LEGISLATION
THAT SOMETIMES IT'S INTRODUCED
AND PASSED. AS RECENT AS A WEEK
OR TWO AGO DURING THE HEARING
FOR SP 43, LPS REFORM LEGISLATOR
STATED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD YET
A PERSON WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE
STATE THAT THEY DID NOT LIKE
INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT. DURING
THAT VERY HEARING, A PERSON
IDENTIFIED AS HAVING LIVED
EXPERIENCE AND SPOKE ABOUT THEIR
TRAUMA WHILE UNDER MANDATED
CARE. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT
SOMETIMES IN THESE HEARING ROOMS
THAT CAN BE VERY DRAMATIC AND
VERY THEATRICAL. I CERTAINLY
UNDERSTAND THAT BUT FROM OUR
LEGISLATORS, UM TO FEED THE
BEAST OF MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
WHILE TRYING TO ADVANCE ANY TYPE
OF LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE TO
BELIEVE IS IN OUR BEST INTEREST
ERODES OUR TRUST INCREASES OUR
TRAUMA AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
DEFEATS THE GOAL OF OUR
LEGISLATORS, POLICYMAKERS AND
ADVOCATES, WHICH IS TO HELP
PEOPLE WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO USE
DEROGATORY INFLAMMATORY LANGUAGE
WHEN SPEAKING ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH AND THOSE IMPACTED BY
MENTAL ILLNESS. SO WHAT IS
MENTAL HEALTH LOOK LIKE FOR
PEOPLE LIVING WITH PSYCHIATRIC
AND OTHER DISABILITIES? SO I'D
LIKE TO START HERE TO PICK UP
FROM THE LEGISLATOR WHO HAD NOT
HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO DISLIKE
INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT, AND I'M
GOING TO SHOW YOU A PAIR OF
SHOES. NOT THE ONES ON MY FEET
CLEARLY. CHERRY RED 19. TERRY
RED 14 61, DOC MARTEN OXFORDS. I
WANTED THESE SHOES FOREVER. I
SAVED UP MY POCKET CHANGE UNTIL
I COULD FINALLY AFFORD THEM.
BOUGHT NEW OUTFITS CAN MATCH
THEM AND WORE THEM NEARLY EVERY
DAY. AND I SURVIVED A LIFE
ALTERING EXPERIENCE IN THEM. MY
FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE MENTAL
HEALTH SYSTEM DURING A CRISIS
OCCURRED WHEN I WAS IN MY LATE
THIRTIES IN LOS ANGELES. THE
VOICES ONLY I COULD HEAR WHERE
RELENTLESS CALLING ME DEROGATORY
NAMES TELLING ME I WAS STUPID,
WORTHLESS, USELESS AND UGLY.
WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS, I RUN
INSIDE MYSELF HIDING THE VERY
ESSENCE OF WHO I AM. AND WORD
AND A DEEP AND DARK PLACE.
OUTWARDLY I'M WITHDRAWN, SILENT
, SEGREGATED FROM THE WORLD
AROUND ME, NEVER LEAVING MY HOME
. NEVER EATING MISSING WORK
DON'T CALL IN AND BASICALLY, I
GIVE UP ON LIFE. PERHAPS THE
VOICES ARE RIGHT. IN TIMES LIKE
THIS. MY MOM WOULD REMIND ME OF
THE DAY THAT I WAS BORN AS PROOF
THAT I BELONGED IN THIS WORLD.
BUT COULD I EVEN TRUST HER?
COULD I TRUST ANYONE? THE VOICES
ARE VERY POWERFUL LIARS, AND
THEY EASILY CROSSOVER INVISIBLE
LINE BETWEEN LIES AND THE TRUTH
AND I CAN'T HELP BUT TO BELIEVE
THEM SHRIVEL UP IN A BALL IN THE
BACK OF MY CLOSET, ENVELOPED IN
THE DARK, THROWING CLOTHES OVER
MYSELF IN HOPES OF DROWNING OUT
THE INCESSANT CHATTER CURSING AT
ME, THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE,
SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN IN
TREATMENT. TO LIVE WITH THE
DIAGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA. THE
TERRIBLE NIGHT. THE VOICES
WOULDN'T RELENT, TERRIFIED INTO
EMBARRASSED TO CALL MY MOM. I
REACHED OUT TO MY DOCTOR. SURELY
HE WAS NEUTRAL AND HE WOULD HELP
ME AND GIVE ME SOME RESOURCES
AND I COULD TRUST HIM TO GET ME
OUT OF THIS UNINTENDED BLE
SITUATION. I WAS IN TROUBLE AND
NEEDED HELP. MY DOCTOR QUICKLY
RESPONDED, SAYING, YOU KNOW
WHAT? I THINK I NEED TO CALL
911. THE POLICE ARRIVED AT MY
APARTMENT BUILDING WHERE I WAS
THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN
RESIDENT. THE OFFICER BANGED ON
THE DOOR, LOUDLY ANNOUNCING THAT
HE WAS FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT FOR MY NEIGHBORS WHO
GOT TO HEAR THAT AND HAD BEEN
SENT TO DO A WELFARE CHECK. SO
MANY THINGS RAN THROUGH MY MIND.
WILL THE NEIGHBORS THINK I'M
SOME SORT OF STEREOTYPE ABOUT
BLACK FOLKS BEING CRIMINALS?
WHAT I BE SAFE TO OPEN THE DOOR
, GIVEN THE MANY HORRIFIC
OUTCOMES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS
AND POLICE INTERACTIONS? MY
PARANOIA DIDN'T STEM AS MUCH
FROM MY ILLNESS IS FROM THE
REALITIES OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
BE BLACK IN AMERICA. I WAS FULLY
DRESSED, WEARING MY VERY WELL
BROKEN IN CHERRY RED DOC MARTENS
. I LET THE POLICE IN FEARING IF
I DIDN'T COMPLY, THEY WOULD
BREAK DOWN MY DOOR. THE POLICE
INTERPRETED MY RAMBLINGS TO MEAN
THAT I WAS SUICIDAL AND BEING
DEEMED A DANGER TO MYSELF. I WAS
HANDCUFFED AND TAKEN TO THE
POLICE STATION, WHERE I WAS
HANDCUFFED TO A CHAIR. LATER
BACK IN THE POLICE CAR. MY HANDS
WERE STILL CUFFED BEHIND MY BACK
. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE
PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL THAT THEY
CALLED COUNTY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
A NAME OTHER THAN COUNTY AND
UPON ARRIVAL, THE POLICE
ESCORTED ME TO THE WARD, WHERE A
NURSE I BELIEVE, ASKED TO TAKE
MY TEMPERATURE, AND I RESPONDED.
NO, THANK YOU. I HAD NO IDEA
TAKING MY TEMPERATURE. I NO IDEA
ABOUT WHAT TAKING MY TEMPERATURE
HAD TO DO WITH WHY I WAS THERE.
NO ONE BOTHERED TO EXPLAIN IT TO
ME. NO ONE ASKED. WHY EVEN
DECLINED NEXT THING I KNEW I
HEARD THE WORD CODE. THE POLICE
AND OTHERS WRESTLED ME TO THE
GROUND AND KEPT TRYING, AND I
KEPT TRYING TO GET FREE. MY
HANDS AND FEET WERE FLAILING
AROUND IN THE AIR LIKE OCTOPUS
TENTACLES. TAKE HER SHOES. THEIR
WEAPONS, YELLED ONE OF THE
OFFICERS AND MY WELL WORN
PERFECTLY BROKEN IN BELOVED
CHERRY RED 14 61 DOC MARTEN
OXFORDS WERE RIPPED FROM MY
FEET. I FOUND OUT THAT NIGHT.
WHAT MENTAL HEALTH CARE WAS ALL
ABOUT ASKING FOR HELP AND
INSTEAD GETTING HANDCUFFED. AND
BEING HARMED PHYSICALLY AND
EMOTIONALLY. AS A RESULT IN FOR
MANY YEARS, I WAS UNWILLING TO
SEEK THE CARE THAT I NEEDED WHEN
I NEEDED IT MOST. MY CHERRY RED
DOC MARTENS WERE RELEGATED TO
THE BACK OF MY CLOSET,
COLLECTING DUST IN THEIR BELOVED
CRACKS AND CREVICES. THEY WERE
THE EMBODIMENT OF THE TRAUMA OF
THAT FIRST HOSPITALIZATION. I
COULDN'T BEAR TO WEAR THEM OR
EVEN LOOK AT THEM. THERE ARE
WERE A REMINDER THAT I WAS SO
BROKEN AND SO BLACK IN AMERICA
THAT SOMEHOW THE TREATMENT I
RECEIVED WAS DESERVED. SO
CLEARLY, I DID NOT LIKE THAT
TREATMENT I WAS SUBJECTED TO AT
THAT TIME. SO NOW WE HAVE IT ON
RECORD THAT A PERSON WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE DOES NOT LIKE
INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT. AND I
WANT TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT AN
INDIVIDUAL OR WHERE FINDING. ONE
SURVEY FOUND THAT MORE THAN HALF
OF THE RESPONDENTS DESCRIBED
THEIR PSYCHIATRIC WARD
EXPERIENCE AS TRAUMATIC. 37%
SAID THEY WERE PHYSICALLY ABUSED
IN SOME WAY, INCLUDING BEING
SUBJECT TO FORCE TREATMENT. 7%
SAID THEY WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED
AND ONLY 17% WERE SATISFIED WITH
THE QUALITY OF THE PSYCHIATRIC
TREATMENT THEY RECEIVED. THAT'S
A PRETTY SMALL NUMBER. WHEN ARE
PEOPLE IN WHEN OUR PEERS AND
PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE
USED TERMS SUCH AS SURVEILLANCE
CAR, CEREBRAL? CULTURAL SYSTEMS
AND ABOLITION, ONE SHOULD REALLY
PAY ATTENTION. WHAT HAPPENS,
HOWEVER, IS THAT WE SUFFER FROM
THE DANGER OF A SINGLE STORY, A
SINGLE STORY THAT DOES NOT
INCLUDE US. THE SINGLE STORY IS
EVIDENT IN CARE ACT LEGISLATION
, WHICH LEGISLATORS ASSUME THAT
PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH
SCHIZOPHRENIA. I DON'T THINK
THAT THEY NEED HELP. AND MAKE
CLEAR THAT THE PURPOSE OF CARE
ACT IS TO TAKE OUR STREETS BACK
AND HELP THESE PEOPLE AND THAT
IF THE INDIVIDUAL SHOULD HAVE
THAT THE INDIVIDUAL SHOULD HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO SAY YES. AND IF
YOU DON'T, WE'RE GOING TO STEP
IN. AND IN STEPPING IN THERE
GOING TO BE THE ADULT IN THE
ROOM. OKAY I GOT TO FIND OUT
WHERE I AM. HOLD ON. OKAY, SO,
UM UH OR FROM OUR FAMILIES WHO
ARE SO DISAPPOINTED, FRUSTRATED
, SCARED, ANGRY AND TRAUMATIZED
FOR THEIR LOVED ONES FOR WHOM
SYSTEMS HAVE REPEATEDLY FAILED
MAKEUP. UH MAKE UP THE STORIES
THAT ARE TOLD AND RETOLD TO
SUPPORT WHAT IS NEEDED TO
ADDRESS CALIFORNIA'S MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS AND AS A NEWLY
FORMED FAMILY ADVOCACY GROUP,
HAS SAID CARE COURT IS OURS. IT
IS THE FAMILIES WHAT IS THE
PEOPLE SINGLED OUT WHO HAVE BEEN
GIVEN DIAGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
AND PSYCHOSIS WILL BE
ADJUDICATED TO THIS CARE ACT
PROCESS WITHOUT ANY BENEFIT OF
INPUT FROM PEOPLE WITH THE LIVED
EXPERIENCE OF BEING ON HOUSED,
UM AND LIVING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA
OF WHAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL, SOME
GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY TO
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT IS OUR SINGLE STORY. UM
AND WHAT'S THE DANGER OF A
SINGLE STORY? NIGERIAN AUTHOR
AMANDA NHÀ GOZO ADDED, WHOSE
NAME I PROBABLY BUTCHERED
SHERIFFS IN HER WRITINGS AND TED
TALKS THAT STEREOTYPICAL AND
REDUCTIVE STORIES ARE HARMFUL
AND ARGUES THAT SUCH STORIES ROB
PEOPLE OF DIGNITY AND MAKE IT
HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT. UM
AND ALSO IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR
US TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.
NEVER TRUER STATEMENT AS WE
CONTINUE TO PUT FAMILIES AND
PEERS AGAINST EACH OTHER ABOUT
ISSUES AND PEOPLE WE ALL LOVE
CARE ABOUT AND WANT TO HELP.
DESPITE THE STATISTICS THAT
POINT TO DISPARITIES FOR BLACK
AND BROWN FOLKS UNDER MANDATED
ORDERS, WE PERSIST TO BUILDINGS
PERSIST TO BUILD THINGS THAT MAY
NOT WORK FOR US AND HOLD US
ACCOUNTABLE TO SAY YES. BECAUSE
IF WE DON'T I SUPPOSED ADULT
WILL STEP IN. A RECENT
DISABILITY RIGHTS INVESTIGATION
IN ALAMEDA COUNTY REVEALED THAT
55% OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLUNTARY
HELD OVER 10 TIMES IN THE COUNTY
PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES WERE
AFRICAN AMERICANS, EVEN THOUGH
AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKE UP LESS
THAN 11% OF THE COUNTY'S
POPULATION. AN ANALYSIS OF
DISCHARGE DATA FROM THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
CARE ACCESS AND INFORMATION
SHOWED THAT COMPARED TO THEIR
WHITE COUNTERPARTS, BLACK AND
LATIN X CALIFORNIANS WERE 57.2%
IN 154.5% RESPECTIVELY, MORE
LIKELY TO BE PLACED ON A 51 50
HOLD. AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE ALSO
DISPROPORTIONATELY DIAGNOSED
WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA, WITH
ESTIMATES RANGING FROM 3 TO 5
TIMES MORE LIKELY IN RECEIVING
SUCH A DIAGNOSIS. SO WHAT IS IT
THAT WE'RE SAYING NO TO SO I'VE
SPOKEN TO COLLEAGUES LIKE DR
ERIN BACK WHO'S RECENTLY PASSED
AWAY, THE DEVELOPER OF COGNITIVE
BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND HIS
COLLEAGUE, DR PAUL GRANT, WHO
WAS THE CO DEVELOPER OF, UH,
RECOVERY ORIENTED COGNITIVE
THERAPY, AND THEY CANNOT
OVERSTATE THE IMPORTANCE OF
ATTENDING TO THE NO. WELL WHAT
THEY SAY IS WHILE THE NOSE AND
THE HEAD SHAKES OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SERIOUS MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITION, DIAGNOSIS MAY
STRIKE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS,
FAMILY MEMBERS, LAWS,
ENFORCEMENT AND MANY OTHERS IS
PROBLEMATIC. IT'S WORTH THINKING
ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE DRIVING THE
KNEES. THE PERSON MAY FIND
THEMSELVES IN AN ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS NOT OFFER A LOT IN TERMS
OF OPPORTUNITY. IT MAY NOT BE
CULTURAL OR LINGUISTIC RELEVANT.
THEY MAY FIND VERY LITTLE CHANCE
TO DIRECT THEIR OWN LIVES
COURSE, AND THEY MAY FIND MANY
THINGS THAT ARE ASKED OF THEM.
UM LIKE, ACCEPT THIS DIAGNOSIS.
TAKE THIS MEDICATION, ATTEND
THIS GROUP RESPOND TO THIS OTHER
PROMPT. THEY MAY SEE THAT THEIR
FREEDOMS ARE SERIOUSLY CURTAILED
THROUGH HOSPITALIZATION,
INCARCERATION AND MEANT DATA
TREATMENT. ALL OF THIS MIGHT
HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY
TIMES FOR MANY YEARS, AND IT
MIGHT FEEL LIKE BEING BACKED
INTO A CORNER. IT'S VERY
FRUSTRATING AND VERY DEMEANING.
HOW CAN YOU HAVE A BIT OF SELF
RESPECT? HOW CAN YOU FIGHT BACK
? HOW CAN YOU FEEL A LITTLE
BETTER? YOU SAY NO. AND IT MAY
SEEM LIKE THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY
YOU HAVE FOR CONTROL IN A WORLD
DEVOID OF CHOICE, AND THEY SAY
IT WORKS EVERY TIME. SO. WHERE
IS THE SOLUTION? WE NEED A
SOLUTION, OFFERING CHOICE AT
EVERY INTERACTION SHOWING
GENERAL INTEREST IN THE PERSON'S
INTERESTS AND PASSIONS, BUILDING
UP TRUST WITH PEOPLE. AND OF ALL
THESE THINGS, INCREASING
THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE THERAPEUTIC
ALLIANCE ACCOUNTS FOR 70% OF
PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE
IN TREATMENT, BUT WE SPEND A LOT
OF TIME BREAKING THAT
THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE OR LOOKING
AT A NUMBER OF THINGS IN THE 30,
NOT THE 70. SO WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE SOLUTIONS SO FROM A
LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT, I'LL
JUST GO THERE. I'LL JUST GO
STRAIGHT TO POLICY IS, UM, WE
KNOW THAT PEER SUPPORT WORKS. WE
HAVE OUR RECENT PEER SUPPORT
BILL ENACTED AND PEOPLE MOVING
FORWARD, BUT WHAT WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND AND IS WHO ARE THE
PIERS? WHAT DID THEY LOOK LIKE?
WHAT LANGUAGES DO THEY SPEAK?
ARE THEY LGBTQ? SO G AND ARE
THEY MULTIPLY DISABLED? WE DON'T
HAVE THAT DATA YET, BUT WE NEED
TO COLLECT THAT DATA AND
UNDERSTAND THAT DATA. OUR FAMILY
SUPPORT NEEDS TO BE TRAUMA
INFORMED. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT
PSYCHO EDUCATION, WHICH IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, BUT WE
ALSO NEED TO SUPPORT OUR
FAMILIES WITH THE TRAUMA THEY
HAVE EXPERIENCED AND TRYING TO
GET THEIR LOVED ONES HELP AND
NOT BEING ABLE TO DO. SO UM IT'S
GOING TO BE ALSO IMPORTANT MANY
TIMES. I DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT
TRAUMA IN OUR LEGISLATION. PURE
RESPITE. SO UM, AS RECENTLY IN
OREGON, THEY PASSED LEGISLATION
TO ADD FOUR PAIR RESPITES FOR
THE STATE OF OREGON. IN
CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE NINE PER
RESPITES, WITH ONE OPENING UP IN
ALAMEDA COUNTY. UM BUT
CALIFORNIA IS A COUNTRY AND
ENTER AND IN ITSELF RIGHT AS BIG
AS IT IS. SO, UM, IT'S REALLY
HARD TO BRAG ABOUT HAVING NINE
PEER RESPITES TO ARE IN L. A
COUNTY L. A COUNTY IS LIKE A
STATE TWO IS NOT ENOUGH. PIERRE
RESPITES, GIVE PEOPLE PLACES TO
GO THINGS TO DO MEANING PURPOSE
CONNECTION AT IT CAN BE A PLACE
TO ENTER IN WHEN THEY'RE FEARFUL
OF ENTERING INTO TREATMENT. THIS
MAY BE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN
START AND MEET WITH APPEAR WHO'S
BEEN THROUGH THE VERY SAME
EXPERIENCES THAT THEY'VE BEEN
THROUGH, UM, TO HELP THEM. UM WE
ALSO NEED TO MEASURE WHAT YOU
TREASURE SO WE TALK A LOT ABOUT
RECOVERY. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW
WELL WE ACTUALLY MEASURE
RECOVERY. WE MEASURE THINGS LIKE
CRIMINALIZATION HOSPITALIZATION
. WE WANT TO DECREASE THOSE
THINGS. BUT WE REALLY DON'T TALK
MUCH ABOUT THE DOMAINS OF
RECOVERY, WHICH ARE HEALTH, HOME
PURPOSE AND COMMUNITY. THE
REASON THAT WE ALL LIVE IS
BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE A
PURPOSE IN LIFE, AND WE WANT TO
BE CONNECTED TO OTHERS, SO WE
NEED TO MOVE BEYOND SOME OF
THESE MEASURES OF HOMELESSNESS
AND INCARCERATION TO MEANING AND
PURPOSE IN LIFE COMMUNITY
INCLUSION, COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION, ACTIVATION AND
THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE FOR
TELEHEALTH. WE NEED TO ENSURE
THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T HAVE
ACCESS, BUT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
THE TECHNOLOGY. THE TECHNOLOGY
IS IN THE LANGUAGE AND, UM, MEET
THEIR DISABILITY NEEDS. AND THAT
, IF NEEDED, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY. SO I
HOPE THAT MY OWN JOURNEY COULD
BECOME PART OF SOMEONE ELSE'S
SURVIVAL GUIDE, ESPECIALLY FOR
FOLKS WHO LOOK LIKE ME. I'VE
NEEDED TO TELL MY STORY FROM MY
OWN HEALING AND THE HEALING OF
OTHERS WITH SUPPORT FROM MY
FAMILY AND MY PEERS. I'VE
LEARNED HOW TO RECONNECT WITH
THE FEAR CITY AND TENACITY THAT
LAY DORMANT UNDER THE GUISE OF
MENTAL ILLNESS. THE FIERCER I
BECAME THE LESS THE ILLNESS.
DEFINED ME. I WAS FINALLY CARESS
WITH SOME VOICES ON OCCASION,
BUT I WAS ME AND AUDACIOUS BLACK
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE. I
DISCOVERED OVER TIME THAT THESE
SHOES THAT I HAD WANTED FOREVER
THESE CHERRY RED 14 61, DOC
MARTENS. THEY ARE A WEAPON FOR
ME. THERE ARE WEAPON OF POWER,
PRIDE AND PERSISTENCE AND THEY
GIVE ME THE ABILITY TO BE HERE
TODAY, SO THANK YOU, AND I'M
ABLE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM
THE COMMITTEE AT THIS TIME.
REMEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS. OR
COMMENTS. CAN YOU TELL ME TELL
US HER TAKE EARLY IN THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY. WHICH IS,
UM, OFTEN NOT DISCUSSED WHEN IT
COMES TO A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON NEEDS?
DO WE FIND, UM THAT. THOSE WITH
DISABILITIES NEED TO HELP WITH
THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. SO I THINK
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR
US TO THINK ABOUT. AND, UM UM,
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS
HAVE TO DO WITH OUR THINGS
ACCESSIBLE IN THE WAY THAT
PEOPLE NEED. I THINK WE THINK OF
PEOPLE, NOT AS INTERSECTIONAL,
BUT ACTUALLY YOU HAVE A MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITION, BUT YOU COULD
HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION
AND ALSO BE HEARING IMPAIRED OR
BE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING. YOU
CAN ALSO HAVE VISUAL
IMPAIRMENTS, ETCETERA. SO UM,
YOU KNOW, JUST LAST WEEK LOOKING
AT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE, UM THE
DOCUMENTS FROM THE JUDICIAL
COUNCIL ON THE CARE COURT
PROCESS. THE ONES THAT GO TO THE
RESPONDENTS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE.
YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR THE YOU HAVE
TO ASK FOR THEM TO BE ACCESSIBLE
IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY, BUT
THE RESPONDENTS ARE GOING TO
ALREADY BE DISABLED BY DEFAULT
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PSYCHIATRIC
DISABILITY, AND THEY'RE SO ILL
IF THEY NEED TO BE REFERRED TO
CARE COURT. THAT THE FORM SHOULD
HAVE ALREADY BEEN, UM, JUST AT A
MINIMUM TO MEET THE THRESHOLD
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE PSYCHIATRIC
DISABILITIES, AND THEN THE AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE FORM. UM AT
THE VERY PERFORMANCES IF YOU
NEED ACCOMMODATIONS FOR
DISABILITY, WELL, THAT SHOULD BE
AT THE TOP OF THE FORM. SO I
THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY SIMPLE
THINGS THAT, UM YOU KNOW, CAN
REALLY HELP MEET OUR NEEDS MANY
TIMES. THE UH, THE FACILITIES
THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO OR NOT
ACCESSIBLE. UM WHEN I WAS
RUNNING APPEAR RUN ORGANIZATION
, I WAS TOLD. OH, YEAH, WELL,
YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GO THROUGH
THE BACK DOOR. WHY WOULD I MAKE
SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR? GO
THROUGH A BACK DOOR. THEY'RE
GOING TO GO IN ANY DOOR. THEY
WANT TO GO IN AND IT'S GOING TO
BE ACCESSIBLE. BUT I DON'T KNOW
THAT THAT'S THE WAY MOST PEOPLE
THINK OR APPROACH THEIR WORK. IT
MIGHT BE THE MINIMUM SCATTERED
OF WHAT? WE MADE IT ACCESSIBLE
IN THIS WAY, BUT IT REALLY
WASN'T TRULY EQUITABLE AND THAT
ACCESSIBILITY SO I THINK THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE THINGS AND THEN
ALSO TO THINK ABOUT THE
INTERSECTION BETWEEN LGBT Q. UM
YOU KNOW, SO G LGBT Q AND THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY WITH MENTAL
HEALTH NEEDS ALSO CROSSES A LOT
OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT
PEOPLE MAY NEED TO HAVE
ATTEMPTED TO AS WELL. THANK YOU
FOR THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY. APPRECIATE IT. YOU
HAVE ONE ALSO, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR SHARING YOUR STORY, AND IT'S
REALLY PROFOUND AND INSPIRING.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO
CONNECT AGAIN. I'D LIKE TO LEARN
MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT
UP, WE WILL HAVE THE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE NATIONAL
ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS,
CALIFORNIA. NAMI IS NAMI IN THE
HOUSE. OH SHE IS ON THE PHONE.
WE WILL. YES I AM HERE. OKAY GO
AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND
YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU AGAIN.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S JACKSON AND, UM
, ALL THE OTHER ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
ON THIS BILL. MY NAME IS ANITA
FISHER AND FIRST TIME A FAMILY
MEMBER, A MOTHER OF AN
INDIVIDUAL WHOSE LITTLE SERIOUS
MENTAL ILLNESS FOR 22 YEARS.
MANAMI CALIFORNIA BOARD MEMBER
ELECT, AND I'M ALSO SERVE ON THE
STATE COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL
JUSTICE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
JUST A LITTLE ABOUT NAMI NAMI,
CALIFORNIA IS A STATEWIDE
AFFILIATE OF THE COUNTRY'S
LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION, THE NATIONAL
ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS. OH
OUR OVER 100 AND 10,000, ACTIVE
ADVOCATES AND 58 BILLION INCLUDE
MANY PEOPLE LIVING WITH SERIOUS
MENTAL ILLNESS, THEIR FAMILIES
AND SUPPORTERS. CALIFORNIA
ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF,
PROVIDING EDUCATION SUPPORT TO
ITS FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE
BROADER COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS
HOW I FOUND NAMI 18 YEARS AGO
WHEN MY SON WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED
WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. A
COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER TAKING THE
FAMILY TO FAMILY COURSE. I
BECAME ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES,
FAMILIES, TEACHERS AND FAMILY
SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATORS. SO
I'VE DONE THIS FOR OVER 16 YEARS
, SO I'M ALSO HEARING THE STORY
OF OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, ALONG
WITH WHAT IS OCCURRED WITH MY
OWN SON OVER THESE 22 YEARS.
MANY TIMES HE DID END UP BEING
ONE OF THOSE HOMELESS
INDIVIDUALS. HE DID END UP BEING
ARRESTED AND PUT IN JAIL IN
PRISON ALL BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE
TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE WAS IN
NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
WHEN HE NEEDED THEM. SO NOW TO
ADDRESS UM SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT YOU POSED FOR NAMI,
CALIFORNIA. UM NOT ME.
CALIFORNIA STAKEHOLDER SURVEY
RESPONDENTS RANKED A SET OF
POTENTIAL BARRIERS THAT IMPACT
THEIR LOVED ONE'S ABILITY TO
ACCESS TREATMENT. THE MAIN
BARRIERS, THEY DECIDED WORK LACK
OF AVAILABLE SERVICES. AND I
COUNT THIS AS A RAPID PRE CRISIS
ENGAGEMENT. EVEN TILL THEY HIT
THAT CRISIS. OKAY OF 51 50 OF
MEETING THAT POLICE CONTACT AND
COMING AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT
IN RECENT YEARS IN MY COUNTY AND
SAN DIEGO, WE DO HAVE A MOBILE
CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM THAT
DOESN'T INVOLVE LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND CAN MAKE THAT CONTACT SOONER
PRE CRISIS. ANOTHER IT'S STIGMA
AND DISCRIMINATION, THE STIGMA
AND DISCRIMINATION OF HAVING A
MENTAL ILLNESS. I BELIEVE THAT
STILL EMPHASIS SOCIETY THAT WE
MUST UNDERSTAND THAT MENTAL
ILLNESSES ARE MEDICAL CONDITION
, TREATABLE MEDICAL CONDITION.
AND THEN THE COST OF SERVICES.
WE KNOW THAT MENTAL FOLKS CARE
IF IT'S DONE AT THE CRISIS,
STATE IS GOING TO COST MORE AND
JUST WIPE PLATINI OTHER MEDICAL
CONDITION WHEN IT'S TREATED
EARLIER AND PREVENTATIVE, THEN
WE KNOW THAT IT WILL COST LESS.
SO THIS SHOULD BE, UM, SOMETHING
THAT ALL THE INSURANCE COMPANIES
SHOULD BE, UM, YOU KNOW,
WATCHING TO SEE HAPPEN. WE ALSO
WANT PATIENT CENTERED,
CLINICALLY INFORMED CARE BURSTED
FUNDING CARE, UH, FUNDING BASED
CARE. WE NEED AN INTEGRATED
SYSTEM THAT USES PERSON CENTERED
CARE WHERE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE
AND ENGAGE IN THEIR TREATMENT
WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDED
AND THOSE PROVIDED TO RESPECT
THEIR WANTS NEEDS AND
PREFERENCES. SO THIS REDUCING
THE FRAGMENTATION BETWEEN
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL
HEALTH SERVICES CAN'T PRODUCE
BETTER OUTCOMES FOR BOTH
PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIOR. HEALTH
DIAGNOSIS. I KNOW AGAIN THAT IN
SPEAKING WITH MY OWN LOVED ONES
, AND ALL OF THE OTHER
INDIVIDUALS WOULD LIVED
EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE WORKED WITH
IN MY YEARS AT NAMI SAN DIEGO. I
KNOW THAT THEIR VOICE IS
IMPORTANT, AND THAT MAKES THE
DIFFERENCE IN HOW THEY RECEIVE
THE CARE THAT THEY HAVE. SO
WE'RE DEFINITELY ON POINT WITH
THAT. WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL
LEGISLATIVE REFORMS NEEDED TO
SUPPORT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AND FOR
FUTURE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
THAT MAY BE EXACERBATED WITH
CURRENT PUBLIC POLICY? WELL,
MENTAL ILLNESSES SHOULD BE
TREATED AGAIN AS THE SAME
PHYSICAL AND ALL MENTAL HEALTH
OF APPOINTMENT SERVICES
TREATMENT SHOULD BE EASILY
ACCEPTABLE FOR THOSE WHO VISIT
THE EXPERT PHYSICAL ILLNESSES.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE GREAT
WORK ON PARITY. WE NOW HAVE SOME
OF THE STRONGEST PARITY POLICY
IN THE NATION, BUT WE MUST
FOLLOW THROUGH ON PARODY
ENFORCEMENT. MENTAL HEALTH
BENEFITS SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN
PARITY WITH MEDICAL AND SURGICAL
BENEFITS. ENSURING THAT HEALTH
PLANS AND INSURERS ARE COMPLYING
WITH REGULATIONS BASED ON YEARLY
INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING
RATHER THAN RELYING ON A
COMPLAINT BASED ENFORCEMENT
SYSTEM, AND HERE'S WHY IT WOULD
BE. IT REDUCES STIGMA ENFORCING
PARITY IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
TREATMENT DIRECTLY COMBAT STIGMA
SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESS,
WHICH HAS ITS STORY KLEEB IN A
BARRIER TO EFFECTIVE CARE.
NAVIGATING LIFE WITH A MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITION IS HARD ENOUGH
AND THE ISOLATION BLAME AND
SECRECY THAT ARE OFTEN
ENCOURAGED BY STIGMA CAN CREATE
HUGE CHALLENGES TO REACHING OUT
GETTING NEEDED SUPPORT AND
LIVING WELL. KARMA IS TOXIC TO
TOXIC TO A PERSON'S MENTAL
HEALTH BECAUSE IT CREATES AN
ENVIRONMENT OF SHAME, BEER AND
SILENCE THAT PREVENTS MANY FROM
SEEKING HELP AND TREATMENT.
ENFORCING PERIOD, CALIFORNIA
SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE AS
IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL HEALTH
CONDITION THAT'S HELPING TO
REDUCE STIGMA. TO GET INCREASES
ACCESS TO CARE PARENTING
ENFORCED. ENFORCEMENT CAN HELP
PEOPLE GAIN ACCESS TO MENTAL
HEALTH CARE THEY NEED. THIS IS
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
MANY PEOPLE WITH MINIMAL HOPE
CONDITIONS OFTEN GO UNTREATED
DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF THERAPY
, COUNSELING AND MEDICATION. BY
FORCING INSURERS TO COVER THESE
TREATMENTS TO THE SAME EXTENT AS
PHYSICAL HEALTH TREATMENT MORE
PEOPLE MAY BE ABLE TO AFFORD
CARE, AND LASTLY, IT PREVENTS
FURTHER HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.
MANY MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS,
IF LEFT UNTREATED, CAN LEAD TO
SEVERE COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING
INCREASED RISK FOR PHYSICAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS HEART
DISEASE AND DIABETES. THESE
CONDITIONS CAN BE LIFE
THREATENING AND COSTLY TO TREAT.
BY PROVIDING EQUAL ACCESS TO
MENTAL HEALTHCARE. WE CAN
PREVENT THESE COMPLICATIONS,
IMPROVING INDIVIDUALS, QUALITY
OF LIFE AND REDUCING OVERALL
HEALTH CARE COSTS. SO I WILL
STOP HERE AND ASK IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? CAN YOU,
UH, TELL ME, UH, THE MOST RECENT
DATA. UH THAT NAMI HAS RECEIVED
IN REGARDS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS AND CAN YOU KIND OF
BRIEFLY GO OVER SOME OF THOSE
POINTS? WELL I KNOW THAT WE FALL
IN LINE WITH THE WITH A LOT OF
THE NATIONAL DATA I WAS BROUGHT
IN AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, SO I
DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN
FRONT OF ME. BUT I KNOW THAT
MUCH OF WHAT I READ AND SEE IN
WHAT IS DESCRIBED AND AGAIN THE
NATIONAL DATA WITH THE MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS JUST ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WERE VERY MUCH IN MIND
WITH THAT. AND WHAT DO YOU SEE
AS SOME OF THE GREATEST BARRIERS
THAT ARE IMPEDING PEOPLE FROM
UM, ACCESSING. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AND OUR HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM.
WELL, ONCE AGAIN IS ENGAGEMENT
WITH HIM PRIOR TO THE CRISIS WE
OFTEN KNOW, ESPECIALLY ITS
FAMILY MEMBERS WERE MANY TIMES
OUR FAMILY MEMBERS DO RESIDE
WITH US. SO WE ARE VERY MUCH
CONNECTED TO THE EVEN IF THEY
DON'T LIVE IN THE HOLE, AND
AGAIN, THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
OF FAMILY MEMBERS THAT I'VE
WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS THIS
IS WHAT I HEAR CONSTANTLY.
THERE'S AN EXCELLENT REPORT THAT
WAS DONE BY THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION CHARACTER RIVERS ON
FAMILY MEMBERS WHO, UM. SUPPORT
THEIR LOVED ONES WHO LIVE WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS, AND IT WAS OVER
. UM YOU KNOW, 110,000
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TO CARE FOR
THEIR LOVED ONES, SO WE DO KNOW
WE SEE SOMETIMES THE CRISIS
BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL, SO I
THINK HAVING WE KNOW THE SERIOUS
SHORTAGE OF A WORKFORCE AND I
KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I ALWAYS PROMOTE WORKFORCE
AUGMENTATION WITH PIERCE
STAFFING LEVELS. BIG BELIEVER IN
PIERCE SUPPORTED EVERY LEVEL OF
THE BEHAVIORS HEALTH SYSTEM, AND
THAT CAN BEGIN SOME OF THAT PEER
AND FAMILY ENGAGED IN THAT
ENGAGEMENT PRIOR TO THE CRISIS.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S NORMALLY
IDENTIFIED BY OTHERS, SOMETIMES
BEFORE THE INDIVIDUALS SOME OF
THE INDIVIDUALS DO LIVE WITH AN
ADDED, UM, CONDITION CALLED
ANOSOGNOSIA, OR A LACK OF
INSIGHT INTO THEIR ILLNESS.
SIMPSON'S MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS
SYMPTOMS SO BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE
WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL SOONER CAN
HELP PREVENT THAT BIG CRISIS
THAT COME. I HOPE THAT KIND OF
ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. YES THEY
THAT YES. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PELLERIN. HI
THANK YOU, MISS FISHER. UM MY
NAME IS GAIL PELLERIN. AND I'M
ALSO I'M A MEMBER OF NOMINEE
SANTA CRUZ AND I WAS FIRST
INTRODUCED IN AMI THROUGH
PARTICIPATING IN THEIR FAMILY TO
FAMILY PROGRAM BEFORE I JOINED
THE BOARD, AND I CAN'T SAY
ENOUGH HOW FABULOUS. THAT
PROGRAM IS. SO ANYONE LISTENING
DO IT. IT'S REALLY WORTH YOUR
TIME. THE PEER TO PEER PROGRAM
IS ALSO FABULOUS AND AS YOU AND
THE PREVIOUS PERSON HAD
TESTIFIED, PERIOD APPEAR IS
DEFINITELY ESSENTIAL. YOU HAD
RAISED ISSUES ABOUT INSURANCE,
AND, UM AND SO I'M TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND THIS LITTLE BIT MORE,
TOO. AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO
SOME PROVIDERS WHERE THEY HAVE
TO APPLY TO EACH INDIVIDUAL
INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET
COVERAGE FOR THEIR SERVICES FOR
MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND IT
BRINGS ME BACK TO THOSE DAYS AND
MY KIDS WERE APPLYING TO COLLEGE
AND THERE WAS ONE COMMON APP.
AND THEN IT JUST WENT OUT TO ALL
THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE?
AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT
YOU'VE? THAT NAME IS CONSIDERED?
WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE AN OPTION.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES WE
NEED TO THROW MANY, MANY TOOLS,
UM AND OPTIONS OUT THERE, AND I
THINK THAT CAN DEFINITELY BE ONE
AND I'LL HAVE TO LOOK FURTHER. I
JUST RECENTLY JOINED THE BOARD.
IT WILL BE OFFICIAL IN JULY.
THAT'S WHY ECONOMIC CALIFORNIA
BOARD MEMBER BLACK AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY
INVESTIGATE. GREAT YEAH, I'M
JUST INTERESTED IN PURSUING THAT
AND SEEING IF WE CAN MAKE IT
MORE EFFICIENT FOR PROVIDERS TO
GET THEIR SERVICES COVERED BY
INSURANCE PLANS. SO THANK YOU.
OKAY THANK YOU. SO VERY MUCH.
MISS FISHER. WE WILL MOVE ON TO
OUR NEXT, UH, PERSON, MISS
CAROLINA VIA AND SHE ALSO ON THE
PHONE. SHE SHOULDN'T THANK YOU
WITH THE CALIFORNIA PAN ETHNIC
HEALTH NETWORK. YES I'M HERE.
OKAY YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE
READY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
SHARING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
CAROLINA VIBES IN YOUR POLICY
DIRECTOR WITH THE COUNSELING A
PAN ETHNIC HEALTH NETWORK FIRST
LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
HOLDING THIS HEARING ON THE
IMPORTANT TOPIC OF CALIFORNIA'S
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND
SPECIFICALLY THE ROLE PLACE IN
IT. THE PEN. WE ARE A STATEWIDE
MULTICULTURAL ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION THAT'S DEDICATED TO
ELIMINATING RACIAL INEQUITIES
AND HEALTH OUTCOMES. AND OVER
THE LAST THREE YEARS WE'VE
CONVENED OVER 1000 CALIFORNIANS
OF COLOR AND LISTENING SESSIONS
TO EXPLORE THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF
MENTAL HEALTH. THE ROLE THAT
STIGMA PLEASE IN IT AND HOW THEY
EXPERIENCE THE MENTAL HEALTH
SYSTEMS. AND SO I'D LIKE TO
SHARE SOME OF THOSE FINDINGS
FROM THE LISTENING QUESTIONS
WITH YOU TODAY. SO FIRST UM
MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA IS
PERVASIVE ACROSS ALL COMMUNITIES
THAT REMAINS PREVIOUSLY HAS BEEN
PERVASIVE, AND IT CONTINUES TO
DO SO. UM WHILE THERE IS AN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AMONG THE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT WE
TALKED TO THAT MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE.
COMMUNITIES DISCUSSED THE NEED
TO KEEP MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES,
PRIVATE AND ALONE. FOR MANY
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THE
STIGMATIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH
STRUGGLES IS SO PERVASIVE THAT
IT ACTUALLY HINDER OR IMPEDE
ACCESS TO CARE. UM THIS STIGMA
IS ALSO EXACERBATED BY THE
ABSENCE OF MATERIALS THAT ARE
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY
APPROPRIATE AND BOTH ON CONSUMER
FORMS AND PUBLIC MESSAGING
MATERIALS. AS WELL AS NOT 88
COMPLIANT AS TOURISTS MENTIONED
EARLIER IN MANY INSTANCES.
COMMUNITIES TALKED ABOUT HOW
DIAGNOSTIC TERMS MIGHT BE
HELPFUL FOR PROVIDERS AND PIECES
OF LEGISLATION BUT THAT THEY'RE
BEING OVERUSED AND CONSUMER
FORMS AND PUBLIC MESSAGING
MATERIALS IN WAYS THAT ACTUALLY
HAVE THE OPPOSITE OF A EFFECTIVE
WHAT THEY INTEND TO DO, WHICH IS
HELP PEOPLE GET INTO CARE. I'M
GOING TO SAY THEY ACTUALLY END
UP DETERRING PEOPLE FROM SEEKING
A CURE THAT THEY NEED. AND MANY
PARTICIPANTS ON THE TALKED ABOUT
HOW MOST MENTAL HEALTH MATERIALS
AREN'T EVEN TRANSLATED INTO THE
PRIMARY LANGUAGE, LET ALONE
PROPERLY OR ACCURATELY
TRANSLATED. COMMUNITIES ALSO
TALKED ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES
WITH NOT SEEKING TREATMENT FOR
THEIR DEPRESSION, ANXIETY OR
OTHER MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES.
REALLY AS A DIRECT RESULT OF
EXPOSURE AND EXPERIENCE THE
DISCRIMINATORY AND DISRESPECTFUL
TREATMENT. UM MANY COMMUNITIES
TALKED ABOUT AND STORAGE, SHARED
STORIES OF DISRESPECTFUL SHOOT
MINT BY BOTH THE PROVIDERS,
OFFICERS AND OTHER SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING HER BEHAVIOR FROM
STAFF, GATEKEEPING OF
APPOINTMENTS AND EVEN THREATENED
TO TERMINATE SERVICES ALTOGETHER
FOR RUNNING LATE TO ONE
APPOINTMENT. UM MANY ALSO TALKED
ABOUT TRAUMATIC INTERACTIONS
WITH THE POLICE AS A RESULT OF
SHARING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH
STRUGGLES. UM COMMUNITIES TALKED
ABOUT HOW IMPLICIT BIAS AMONG
PROVIDERS AND THE LACK OF AN
INTEGRATED APPROACH REALLY
DISCOURAGES THEM FROM SEEKING
CARE. ONE CLINICIAN IN OUR
LISTENING SESSION TALKED ABOUT
HOW MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
ACTUALLY HAVE TRADITIONS
ATTACKING WITH THEIR ANCESTORS
AND HOW THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
WITHOUT AN APPROPRIATE CULTURAL
FRAMEWORK MAY DIAGNOSIS AS A
PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS WHEN IN
REALITY, IT IS A CULTURAL
EXPERIENCE THAT SHOULD BE VIEWED
FROM WITHIN A CULTURAL
FRAMEWORK, NOT A DIAGNOSTIC ONE.
UM AND SO THIS IS REALLY I THINK
AN EXAMPLE ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW
STIGMA IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF
PERCEPTION OR BELIEF, BUT HOW A
LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL
HEALTH AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
HAVE TANGIBLE CONSEQUENCES. UM
SUCH AS UNWANTED INTERACTIONS
WITH THE POLICE OR THE WELL
DOCUMENTED OVER DIAGNOSIS OF A
SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS AND
INDIGENOUS AND AFRICAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES. UM IN TERMS OF
SOLUTIONS, I THINK TO GO TO SOME
OF THIS WORK TO COMBAT STIGMA
FIRST REALLY NEED TO ENSURE THAT
CONVERSATIONS AND THE LANGUAGE
THAT WE'RE USING AROUND MENTAL
HEALTH ARE REFRAMED FROM A
DEFICIT BASED TREATMENTS
PERSPECTIVE TO A CULTURAL AND
HEALTH EDUCATION FRAMEWORK. UM
IN OUR COMMUNITY LISTENING
SESSIONS, PARTICIPANTS SHARE
THAT USING LANGUAGE LIKE MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELLNESS INSTEAD OF
MENTAL ILLNESS FEELS MORE
POSITIVE. AND ALIGNED THEIR
EXPERIENCE. UM FOR EXAMPLE, IN
THE BLACK COMMUNITY, IT MIGHT
LOOK LIKE SHARING STORIES AND
FOCUSING ON EXPERIENCES RATHER
THAN DIAGNOSTIC LABELS FOR
CLINICAL LANGUAGE FOR AMERICAN,
INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
COMMUNITIES IN MY PROVIDING
CONTEXT ON GENERATIONAL TRAUMA
AND TRADITIONAL HEALING OF THE
FOREGROUND BEFORE CONNECTING TO
MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATION. AND
ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER
COMMUNITIES. HAVING CULTURAL
EXPERTS THAT ARE BILINGUAL AND
BICULTURAL AND CAN TALK TO THE
ISSUE OF STIGMA WITH BOTH
EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL
ADVANTAGE POINT MIGHT BE MORE
RELEVANT AND ACCEPTING, UM WE DO
HAVE BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS
AVAILABLE FOR STIGMA.
ELIMINATION TODAY, UM, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES ACT CURRENTLY FUN, FUN,
STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION AND
ELIMINATION CAMPAIGN. MANY OF
THE PARTNERING COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WORK WITHIN OUR
STATEWIDE NETWORK. THAT
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EQUITY
COLLABORATIVE HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA AND
DISCRIMINATION REDUCTION
CAMPAIGNS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
FOR OVER A DECADE. UM
ADDITIONALLY, UM TI¾N, UM, HAS
PASSED SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATION
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
BUT NOW REQUIRES MEDICAL CHILD
TO DO A COMMUNITY REVIEW
TRANSLATED MEDICAL BENEFICIARY
DOCUMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY
ARE PROPERLY TRANSLATED INTO
OTHER LANGUAGES AND OUT OF
READING GRADE LEVEL AND THAT
INCLUDES THE MEDICAL MENTAL
HEALTH BOOKS THAT CONSUMERS USED
TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM. UM AND
WE HAVE ALSO HAD SUCCESSFUL
LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE MEDICAL
HEALTH PLAN TO DEVELOP AND
IMPLEMENT MORE CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION TO INFORM CONSUMERS OF
THEIR BEST HAS BEEN RIGHT, SO
THE STATE REALLY SHOULD CONTINUE
TO INVEST AND STIGMA,
DISCRIMINATION AND ELIMINATION
CAMPAIGNS ALSO ENSURING ROBUST
IMPLEMENTATION OF EXISTING LAW
TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MENTAL
HEALTH. UM SECOND THING TO
COMBAT STIGMA, AND WE'VE GOT TO
SCALE UP COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, PEERS AND
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS FROM A
TORAHS AS REALLY A STRATEGY,
ANTI RACIST STRATEGY AND
APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
SO THIS LOOKS LIKE PARTNERING
WITH CULTURAL BROKERS AND
CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO
UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DEFINE
MENTAL HEALTH. WHAT LANGUAGE MAY
DETER THEM FROM CONNECTING TO
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THEN
ADJUSTING THAT LANGUAGE AND
APPROACH TO MEET COMMUNITIES
WHERE THEY ARE. THIS LOOKS LIKE
PARTNERING WITH PEERS, NPR RUN
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE TRAINED
PEERS TO TELL WHO TELL THEIR
STORIES OF MENTAL HEALTH
RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE
SPECIFICALLY TO PROMOTE MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS AND DECREASE
STIGMA. WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
ENSURE THAT PIERS MATCH THE
CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF THE
CONSUMER AND COLLECT THAT DATA,
AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED. THIS LOOKS
LIKE PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY
HEALTH WORKERS AND DORIS WHO ARE
REALLY CRITICAL, CULTURALLY
RESPONSIVE COMMUNITY BASIS
PROVIDERS THAT SUPPORT SOME OF
THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS IN
OUR COMMUNITY AND BOTH PEERS AND
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND
CREMATORIA ARE REALLY CRUCIAL
FOR ENGAGING RACIAL AND ETHNIC
GROUPS WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY
UNDERSERVED, INAPPROPRIATELY
SERVED BY OUR BEHAVIORAL HELP
WITH THEM. UM TODAY COUNTY CAN
OPT INTO THE PURE MENTAL HEALTH
BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
HEALTH WORKER BENEFIT IS
AVAILABLE IN MEDICAL MANAGED
CARE. SOME BENEFITS ARE
AVAILABLE, BUT MORE CAN BE DONE
. FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE COULD
CONSIDER CATEGORIZING CHW FROM
NPR'S AS IT REQUIRES STATE
BENEFITS OF ACROSS ALL DELIVERY
SYSTEMS IMPACTING MENTAL HEALTH.
AND ALSO PREVENT ANY FUTURE
DELAYS IN FUNDING FOR THE
EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE
WORK FORCE THAT IS NECESSARY TO
MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR
STATE. UM LASTLY, CALIFORNIA
NEEDS TO INTEGRATE AND CONSIDER
INTEGRATING MORE CULTURALLY
RESPONSIVE SERVICES INTO THE
PRIMARY SET OF MEDICAL MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES INTO THE PRIMARY
INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE BEING
PROVIDED. UM ARE FOLKS TOLD US
THAT DIVERSE COMMUNITIES REALLY
NEED WHAT'S CALLED THE DELTA
MENTAL HEALTH APPROACH THAT
INTEGRATES SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL
AND PHYSICAL HEALTH TO MAKE THE
WORK AND SERVICES MORE
EXPECTABLE. UM AND I'M AND, UM
WHAT? WHAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE
TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, IS
POLICIES WITH REALLY DEEPLY
EMBEDDED RACISM THAT RESULT IN
PEOPLE OF COLOR OF LIVING WITH
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
INVOLUNTARY DETENTION AND
TREATMENT, INCLUDING JAILS,
PRISONS, PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
AND PIECE OF LEADERSHIP. BUT
INSTEAD OF INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT
OR INCARCERATION, WHICH FURTHER
EXACERBATES STIGMATIZATION, WE
NEED CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE
SERVICES OR A STEALTH MENTAL
HEALTH APPROACH THAT SHOULD BE
INTEGRATED INTO THE PRIMARY SET
OF SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT SUFFERING AND
STIGMATIZATION. TODAY WE HAVE A
SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
OR SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH
BENEFIT THAT IS AVAILABLE, AND
MANY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE
STATE ARE INTEGRATING MORE
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SERVICES
INTO THE PRIMARY SPECIALTY
SERVICES, INCLUDING INTEGRATING
TRADITIONAL HEALING WITH
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT AND
INTEGRATING TRADITIONAL HEALING
WITH SUBSTANCES. TREATMENT. UM
SO, UM, CALIFORNIA SHOULD REALLY
THINK ABOUT HOW IT IS TVS DOING
THIS WORK? WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC
MECHANISMS THAT THEY'RE USING TO
INTEGRATE HOLISTIC CARE INTO
SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH CARE,
AND WE SHOULD ADD INVESTMENTS TO
BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
COMMUNITY ROOTED PROVIDERS. SUCH
THAT THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
BUILD FOR SUCH SERVICES. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LEADERSHIP
, AND WE CONTINUE TO LOOK
FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU
ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR FROM
MEMBERS? UH SAYING THAT AT THIS
TIME, CAN YOU? UH YOU KNOW, I
USUALLY SIMILAR TO THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY. I THINK WE
DON'T HEAR ENOUGH. UM OF THE
NEEDS OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC
ISLANDER COMMUNITY. UH DO YOU
HAVE ANY QUANTITATIVE OR
QUALITATIVE INFORMATION THAT YOU
CAN SHARE SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT
COMMUNITY? YEAH YEAH. SO UM, IN
GENERAL, SAY WHEN WE LOOK AT
NATIONALS DATA. UM
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S COREY JACKSON.
UM WE SEE THAT THERE'S AN
ESTIMATE ABOUT 21% ABOUT 20% OF
THE POPULATION ON A NATIONAL
LEVEL AND HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUE AND ABOUT 5% HAVE A
SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AND
UM, RATES OF ACCESS WITHIN THE
ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER
COMMUNITY ARE MUCH LOWER THAN
THE ESTIMATED RATES OF
PREVALENCE AND THEY'RE EVEN
LOWER THAN UM, RACE OF THEIR
POPULATION WITHIN A GIVEN COUNTY
, SO THERE'S VERY VERY WHAT WE
CALL UNDERUTILIZATION. OR UM,
YOU KNOW, LACK OF ACCESS RIGHT?
ONE THING TO NOTE, THOUGH, IS
THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT DATA
PREVALENCE OR ACCESS UM, IT'S
NOT GROUNDED IN CULTURAL
FRAMEWORK, AND IT REALLY
UNDERESTIMATE THE ROLE NEXT
SYSTEMIC RACISM PLAY IN THE
PRESENTATION OF MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES AND THE RATE OF MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES. SO, UM I CAN GET
YOU SOME MORE SPECIFIC DATA ON
THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. BUT
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE,
KIND OF A NOTE. IN TERMS OF WHAT
WE CONSIDER WHEN WE'RE LOOKING
AT SOME OF THESE DATA PEOPLE.
YEP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE
COMMUNITY WOULD BE VERY GREAT.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. UM NEXT, WE
WILL HAVE THE CALIFORNIA BLACK
HEALTH NETWORK. UM DR SHAH SHAKE
KANDA ROGERS, PLEASE COME ON UP.
CAN YOU? MAYBE AGAIN WHEN YOU'RE
READY? WELCOME. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. GLAD TO BE HERE. THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME. GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE. BEFORE I BEGIN. I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S DR COREY
JACKSON. CHAIR OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON CALIFORNIA'S MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS AND MEMBERS. FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY
ON DEFINING MENTAL HEALTH AND
ADDRESSING THE STIGMA I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO THANK MS RHONDA
SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA BLACK HEALTH NETWORK
, FOR RECOMMENDING ME AS AN
EXPERT WITNESS TODAY. TO SHARE
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE
BLACK COMMUNITY. AND HOW TO FIND
HEALING. IT'S A TRUE HONOR AND A
PRIVILEGE TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU
IN THIS MOMENT. SO THE QUESTIONS
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS TODAY ARE AS
FOLLOWS. WHY HAS THE BLACK
COMMUNITY STRUGGLE TO DEFINE
MENTAL HEALTH? AND WHAT
PROGRAMMATIC METHODS ARE NEEDED
TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY
OUTREACH TO DE STIGMATIZE MENTAL
HEALTH. WHAT I OFFER ALL OF YOU
TODAY IS INFORMED BY THREE HATS
THAT I WEAR ONE AS A CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGIST IN PRIVATE
PRACTICE. A SECOND AS A MEMBER
OF THE CALIFORNIA BOARD OF
PSYCHOLOGY WHERE I CURRENTLY
SERVICED THE VICE PRESIDENT AND
THE THIRD AS A FOUNDER AND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A
NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO HEALING
RACIAL TRAUMA IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THOUGH I SPEAK AS A BLACK
WOMAN WHO PROVIDES HEALING AND
ACTIVELY PURSUES MY OWN HEALING
SO THAT I CAN BE A VESSEL TO
HELP OTHERS. AND I'D LIKE TO
BEGIN WITH A QUOTE THAT IS NEAR
AND DEAR TO MY HEART, WHICH IS
BY DR CORNEL WEST, BELOVED SON
OF SACRAMENTO, WHICH SAYS NEVER
FORGET THAT JUSTICE IS WHAT LOVE
LOOKS LIKE IN PUBLIC. THIS IS AT
THE HEART OF MY TALK TODAY,
WHICH I HAVE ENTITLED A
MEDITATION ON LOVE AND TRUST. SO
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LOVE FOR
ONE'S FELLOW MAN, WHAT COMES TO
MIND? FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. LET'S
ALL TAKE A COLLECTIVE PAUSE. AND
BRING TO MIND A PERSON IN OUR
LIVES WHO HAS LOVED US. OR LOVES
US NOW. IT COULD BE SOMEONE
ALIVE TODAY OR AN ANCESTOR WHO
WANTS LOVED US. WHOEVER IT IS.
BRING THEM TO YOUR HEART INTO
YOUR MIND'S EYE. AND REALLY SEE
THEIR FACE. WHAT IS IT ABOUT
THAT PERSON'S ACTIONS THAT LET
YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE OR WERE
LOVED? PERHAPS IT WAS THEIR
KINDNESS. THEIR EMPATHY,
COMPASSION OR TENDERNESS. OR
PERHAPS IT WAS THEIR ABILITY TO
REALLY TRULY SEE YOU AS YOU ARE.
WITHOUT JUDGMENT. AND WITH TRUE
GENUINE ACCEPTANCE. PERHAPS IT
WAS THERE ALLOWING YOU TO BE
YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF AND
EMBRACING YOU WITH WARMTH AND
CARE. MAKING SPACE FOR THE
TOTALITY OF WHO YOU ARE. SO WHO
CAME TO YOUR MIND AND HEART? FOR
ME. IT'S ALWAYS MY MOTHER AND MY
MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER WHO ARE NOW
MY ANCESTORS. BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE
TO DO WITH HEALTH CARE, MENTAL
HEALTH AND STIGMA? AS A LICENSED
PSYCHOLOGIST. I BELIEVE THAT ONE
OF THE REASONS THAT THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IS RELUCTANT TO SEEK
OUT MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS DUE TO
THE FACT THAT OUR SYSTEMS ARE
NOT FOUNDED UPON OR ROOTED IN
THE LOVE IN THE WAYS THAT I JUST
DESCRIBED. HISTORICALLY THERE
HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF
MISTRUST TOWARDS THESE SYSTEMS.
AS THEY HAVE BEEN ROOTED IN
OPPRESSION, MARGINALIZATION AND
ANTI BLACKNESS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN
18 51, DR SAMUEL CARTWRIGHT
DEVELOPED A DIAGNOSTIC
DIAGNOSTIC TERM NAMED DRAPED
TOMAINIA. TO DESCRIBE WHAT HE
CALLED A SYNDROME THAT CAUSED
ENSLAVED AFRICANS TO RUN AWAY
ESCAPE AND BE FREE. IMAGINE
THAT. THE WISH TO BE FREE FROM
SUFFERING AND BRUTALITY WAS
CONSIDERED TO BE A MENTAL
DISORDER AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
CONDITION. ALTHOUGH THIS
CATEGORY DID NOT GAIN MUCH
TRACTION IN THE MEDICAL
COMMUNITY. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE
WAYS IN WHICH BLACK PEOPLE HAVE
EITHER BEEN OVER PATHOLOGIZE OR
HAVE HAD THE BROADER CONTEXT OF
RACE RELATED TRAUMA EITHER
MINIMIZED OR IGNORED ALTOGETHER
. WHEN IT COMES TO THE
CHALLENGES ARE PEOPLE FACE. OVER
THE LAST 18 YEARS OF BEING A
LICENSED PRACTITIONER. I'VE SEEN
THE WAYS IN WHICH THE LACK OF
CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE CAN
HARM THE BLACK COMMUNITY, WHICH
CONTINUES TO PERPETUATE THE
CYCLE OF MISTRUST. BROADLY
SPEAKING, WHEN CLINICIANS DO NOT
HAVE THE TRAINING OR DO NOT
EMBODY CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN
THE CARE THEY OFFER, IT CREATES
THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPLICIT BIAS
TO EMERGE AND AS THE PANELISTS
HAVE ALREADY SAID TODAY, WHEN
THIS HAPPENS, THE CLINICIAN MAY
MISDIAGNOSED THE PATIENT, WHICH
CAN LEAD TO INACCURATE CASE
CONCEPTUALIZATION. POOR
TREATMENT, PLANNING AND
MISALIGNED CARE. WHEN CARE IS
OFFERED, THAT IS MISS ATTUNED
AND MISINFORMED. IT OFTEN
RESULTS IN PATIENTS NOT FEELING
HEARD AND NOT FEELING
UNDERSTOOD. THIS DISRUPTS THE
CAPACITY TO BUILD RAPPORT AND
THE THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE. THE
CONTEXT IN WHICH A PATIENT FEELS
SAFE WITH THEIR PROVIDER AND
FEELS A SENSE OF COLLABORATION
AND WORKING WITH THEIR PROVIDER.
IF SAFETY AND TRUST ARE NOT
PRESENT TREATMENT. WELL OFTEN
FAIL. TRUST CANNOT BE BUILT WHEN
PROVIDERS IN THE SYSTEMS IN
WHICH THEY ARE WORKING CANNOT
TRULY SEE THEIR PATIENTS AND
HONOR THE FULL SCOPE OF THEIR
HUMANITY AND THE SOCIAL CONTEXT
IN WHICH THEY'RE SUFFERING
EXISTS. AND WHEN TRUST IS BROKEN
OR CANNOT BE BUILT IN THE FIRST
PLACE. PEOPLE IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY HAVE THEIR FEARS
REINFORCED THAT THESE NETWORKS
ARE UNSAFE AT THE VERY LEAST, OR
CREATE MAJOR HARM AT THE VERY
WORST. A PROFESSOR OF MINE IN
GRADUATE SCHOOL USED TO ALWAYS
SAY IT IS THE RELATIONSHIP, NOT
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION
THAT IS THE CURATIVE FACTOR IN
PSYCHOTHERAPY. ALL THESE YEARS
LATER, I STILL BELIEVE THIS.
IT'S THE RELATIONSHIP THAT
HEALS. IN OCTOBER. 2021 THE
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL
ASSOCIATION ISSUED AN APOLOGY TO
PEOPLE OF COLOR FOR PAPA'S ROLE
IN PROMOTING, PERPETUATING AND
FAILING TO CHALLENGE RACISM,
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND HUMAN
HIERARCHY IN THE U. S WHICH CAN
BE FOUND ON THEIR WEBSITE. THE
APOLOGY BEGINS WITH THESE WORDS.
THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL
ASSOCIATION FAILED IN ITS ROLE
LEADING THE DISCIPLINE OF
PSYCHOLOGY. WAS COMPLICIT AND
CONTRIBUTING TO THE SYSTEMIC
INEQUITIES AND HURT MANY THROUGH
RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
AND DENIGRATION OF PEOPLE OF
COLOR, THEREBY FALLING SHORT ON
ITS MISSION TO BENEFIT SOCIETY.
AND IMPROVE LIVES. ÁP IS
PROFOUNDLY SORRY. ACCEPTS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND OWNS THE
ACTIONS AND INACTIONS ÁP ITSELF.
THE DISCIPLINE OF PSYCHOLOGY.
AND INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO
STOOD HIS LEADERS FOR THE
ORGANIZATION AND FIELD. IF OUR
OWN DISCIPLINE HAS FINALLY
ACKNOWLEDGED THE RAMPANT HARM
HIS CAUSED BY UPHOLDING RACIST
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OVER
THE GENERATIONS THROUGH ITS
COMPLICITY. THEN THIS IS AN
INVITATION FOR REPAIR.
REIMAGINING AND RENEWAL SO THAT
HEALING CAN FLOURISH WHERE HARM
ONCE ROAMED FREE. WHILE THIS
TIME ASKS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
THE YEARS OF OPPRESSION, WE MUST
NOT STAY THERE. RATHER THIS TIME
CALLS US TO THOUGHTFULLY AND
CAREFULLY DISMANTLE SYSTEMS THAT
NO LONGER WORK. AND REBUILD THEM
WITH LOVE, TENDERNESS AND
COMPASSION. THIS IS WHAT A JUST
MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM LOOKS AND
FEELS LIKE. IT IS A SYSTEM THAT
HAS A DEEP ABIDING BELIEF THAT
ALL PEOPLE WHICH INCLUDES BLACK
PEOPLE ARE WORTHY AND DESERVING
OF BEING WELL HEELED. HEALTHY
AND WHOLE. I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT THESE ISSUES FOR LAW HONG
LONG TIME NOW RECOGNIZING THAT
MY PRIVATE PRACTICE, WHICH IS
ALWAYS FULL IS LIMITED IN WHAT I
CAN OFFER MY PEOPLE WHO ARE
HEMORRHAGING WITH THE PAIN OF
PRESENT DAY RACIAL TRAUMA, AS
WELL AS THE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA
THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN
THROUGH ALL OF OUR RESPECTIVE
LINEAGES. THIS TRAUMA IS ALIVE
IN OUR MINDS, OUR HEARTS, OUR
BODIES AND SPIRITS. AT ALL
TIMES. IT MAKES IT NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND REST. IT
MAKES US WEARY. IT MAKES US
ANGRY. IT BREAKS OUR HEARTS AND
IT WOULD DESTROY OUR SOULS. IF
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE HOPE, THE
JOY, THEIR RESILIENCE AND
STRENGTH AND THE LOVE OF
COMMUNITY TO HELP KEEP US AFLOAT
AND PULL US THROUGH. THE MIRROR
FACT THAT ANY OF US IS STANDING
UPRIGHT TODAY IS A TESTAMENT TO
THE MIRACULOUS NOUS OF OUR
PEOPLE. WE REPRESENT LINEAGES OF
THE AFRICAN DIASPORA WHO
SURVIVED CHATTEL SLAVERY, JIM
CROW AND THE PRESENT DAY ANTI
BLACKNESS THAT FEELS ARE NEWS
OUTLETS AND SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS.
WE ARE THE ONES WHO MADE IT.
UNTIL WE ADDRESS THE
FOUNDATIONAL PIECES UPON WHICH
OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE
BUILT. WE WILL BE IN CONTINUAL
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT ISN'T
WORKING. RATHER THAN APPROACHING
CARE THROUGH THE LENS OF SYMPTOM
REDUCTION, THE NUMBER OF
SESSIONS THAT WILL BE ALLOTTED
BY THE REGULATORS OF INSURANCE
COMPANIES AND THE DISMAL
REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR
LITERALLY GOING INTO THE WAR
ZONES OF PEOPLE'S EMOTIONAL
INTERIOR. WE SHOULD BE ASKING
THE FOLLOWING HOW DO WE VALUE
THE ENTIRETY OF ONE'S LIVED
EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING THE PIECES
RELATED TO EPIGENETIC? AND THE
TRANSMISSION OF GENERATIONAL
TRAUMA IN THE LIVES OF OUR BLACK
BROTHERS AND SISTERS. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WILL IT TAKE
FOR PEOPLE TO FIND HEALING AND
STAY ROOTED THERE? AND AS
LIBERATION PSYCHOLOGY TRAUMA,
INFORMED PRACTICE PRACTITIONERS
TEACH US TO ASK THEY TEACH US TO
ASK NOT ONLY WHAT HAPPENED TO
YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE AND WHAT
CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, HOW DO WE NOW HONOR
YOUR ANCESTRAL WISDOM TO HEAL
ANCESTRAL AND CONTEMPORARY
WOUNDS SO THAT YOU MAY GO FROM
SURVIVING TO THRIVING IN THIS
LIFE? THESE QUESTIONS. KEEP ME
UP AT NIGHT. AND AFTER MANY
YEARS, I FINALLY DECIDED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IN 2019. I
FORMED AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED
TO HEALING RACIAL TRAUMA IN THE
BLACK COMMUNITY, WHICH IS CALLED
HOLDING SPACE. WE BECAME A
NONPROFIT IN APRIL OF 2020 JUST
AT THE OUTSET OF THE PANDEMIC,
AND OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE,
IMPROVE THE EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND
WELL BEING OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN
DESCENT. BY PROVIDING A WIDE
RANGE OF SERVICES AND COMMUNITY
OFFERINGS THAT ARE HOLISTIC,
CULTURALLY COMPETENT. TRAUMA
INFORMED AND STRENGTH BASED. WE
CATER OUR OFFERINGS TO THE MIND,
BODY AND SPIRIT FOR BLACK
PEOPLE. AND OUR CARE IS ROOTED
IN THE ABIDING BELIEF THAT
LIVING AND BEING WELL IN A BLACK
BODY IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT. WE ALSO
BELIEVE THAT OUR PEOPLE ALREADY
HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE
WELL. WITH OUR INTEGRATIVE
RACIAL TRAUMA, HEALING MODEL
OFFERINGS AND CORPORATE
INCORPORATE HOLISTIC HEALING
PRACTICES DESIGNED TO HELP OUR
MEMBERS DO A FEW THINGS. DEVELOP
TOOLS TO SOOTHE THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM. BUILD AWARENESS ON HOW
OPPRESSION IMPACTS THE MIND AND
BODY. IDENTIFY HISTORICAL ENERGY
, GENERATIONAL INTERSECTIONAL
SOURCES OF TRAUMA IN ORDER TO
DEFY THE LIVES OF INFERIORITY
AND CONNECT TO ANCESTRAL WISDOM.
AND EMPOWER CLIENTS TO TRANSFORM
OPPRESSIVE NARRATIVES THROUGH
STRENGTH BASED APPROACH. OUR
HEARTS CENTERED. HEALING
PRACTICES RECOGNIZED THE NEED
FOR TENDERNESS AND COMPASSION IN
RESPONSE TO THE WOUNDS OF RACIAL
TRAUMA THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED
DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATIONS.
BECAUSE WE EMPHASIZE INDIVIDUAL
AND COLLECTIVE HEALING. OUR
HOLISTIC OFFERINGS ALLOW MEMBERS
TO DO THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL WORK.
AND ALSO BEING CONNECTED TO A
COMMUNITY THAT CARES DEEPLY
ABOUT THEIR WELL BEING. WE SEE
THEM. WE LOVED THEM, AND WE WANT
THEM TO BE HEALED. WHILE WE ARE
A RELATIVELY NEW ORGANIZATION
ARE HEALING PRACTICES ARE NOT
OUR CARE IS ROOTED IN EVIDENCE
BASED MIND BODY PRACTICES.
MINDFULNESS BASED APPROACHES AS
WELL AS AFRICAN CENTERED
PSYCHOTHERAPY, PSYCHOTHERAPY
ACCESS TO MOVEMENT PRACTICES
SUCH AS YOGA AND AFRICAN DANCE
AND OTHER HOLISTIC PRACTICES,
SUCH AS SOUND HEALING FOR THOSE
WHO ARE SO INCLINED GROUP
THERAPY, PSYCHO EDUCATION,
ANCESTRAL WISDOM, TRADITIONS AND
CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES FOR
THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING A
SPIRITUAL COMPONENT TO THEIR
WELL BEING. OUR MODEL FOR
HEALING RACIAL TRAUMAS,
INTEGRATIVE AND HOLISTIC, AND
THIS SEEMS TO BE A PATHWAY
TOWARD RADICAL HEALING FROM THE
INSIDE OUT. IN THE AFRICAN
PRINCIPLE OF UBUNTU, WHICH MEANS
I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE WE
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR INTERDEPENDENCE
AND COLLECTIVE IMPACT ON ONE
ANOTHER. HOLDING SPACE IS AN
AGENT OF CHANGE ON A JOURNEY
TOWARD RACIAL HEALING, AND WE
ARE A BEACON OF LIGHT CHARTING
THE PATH TOWARDS BLACK HEALING,
RENEWAL, RESILIENCE AND JOY.
HEALING RACIAL TRAUMA REQUIRES
LOVING, AUTHENTIC AND NURTURING
HANDS TO HELP RESTORE BLACK
HUMANITY. TO FULFILL OUR MISSION
TO OFFER SOULFULLY ATTUNED,
HOLISTIC HEALING. WE NEED POLICY
CHANGE, FUNDING AND A BELIEF
THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS WORTH
INVESTING IN. NOT CONTINUING TO
SUBJUGATE AND LEAVE BY THE
WAYSIDE. THE COST OF MENTAL
HEALTH TREATMENT, INCLUDING RACE
BASED MIND, BODY TRAUMA,
INFORMED THERAPY AND OTHER
HOLISTIC WELLNESS SERVICES CAN
BE A PROHIBITIVE BARRIER. FOR
MANY PEOPLE. IN PARTICULAR
PEOPLE MARGINALIZED BY SYSTEMIC
OPPRESSION, WHO MAYBE MOST IN
NEED OF CARE. MAY BE UNABLE TO
ACCESS CARE BECAUSE OF BEING
UNDERINSURED OR NOT HAVING
HEALTH INSURANCE AT ALL.
ADDITIONALLY BY AND LARGE
INSURANCE PLANS DO NOT HAVE
STRUCTURED REIMBURSEMENT RATES
FOR CARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING
RACE BASED TRAUMA. HOLDING SPACE
IS UNIQUE IN THAT AS A 501 C
THREE. WE WISH TO PROVIDE
HEALING SERVICES FOR THE
COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT IS
FINANCIALLY ASSESSABLE TO ALL
PERSONS OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
SEEKING SERVICES AND IS NOT COST
PROHIBITIVE FOR THOSE IN NEED.
WE WILL NEED LOTS OF SUPPORT TO
HELP US ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION.
I'M THANKFUL TO HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO SHARE OUR NEW VISION OF CARE
WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S DR COREY
JACKSON AND MEMBERS OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE. FOR THIS
IMPORTANT AND TIMELY DISCUSSION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS AND TODAY'S QUESTION
AND ANSWER IF YOU HAVE THEM AND
IN THE FUTURE AS WE TACKLE THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING A CHAMPION OF
THIS OFTEN NEGLECTED TOPIC. AND
IF THERE'S TIME I'LL STILL
ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS AROUND
PROGRAMMATIC METHODS OF OUTREACH
TO DE STIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH,
BUT I'LL PAUSE FOR NOW, IF YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. UM YEAH
, OBVIOUSLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR THOROUGHNESS IN TERMS
OF THE ENTIRE, UM. UH, TRIGGERS.
OF VARIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
AFFECTING UM, THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITY. UM AND
PARTICULARLY PUTTING AN
AFROCENTRIC PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS
OF WHAT HEALING MEANS. HOW IS
CONDUCTED UH, UM AND I'M A.
TRAINEE EMOTIONAL EMANCIPATION.
AH CIRCLES. UH HUH. I USED TO
CONDUCT THEM BEFORE I CAME UP
HERE AND I STILL MISS IT.
ABSOLUTELY UM AND WHAT? WE'RE
GOING TO BE ASKING FOR ALL OF
OUR PANELISTS IS TO ENSURE THAT
WE ALSO GET YOUR WRITTEN
TESTIMONY AS WELL, BECAUSE, UM,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PARTICULARLY THE THOSE REMEDIES
THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO LEGISLATE
ON. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
THAT PHYSICALLY IN FRONT OF US
SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT AS
WE GO INTO THE NEXT YEAR, AND
THE NEXT ROUND OF LEGISLATION.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE
SOME OF THOSE THINGS. SO THANK
YOU. SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND
ATTENTION AND PRESENCE. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. ABSOLUTELY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE THE
FRIENDSHIP HOUSE ASSOCIATION OF
AMERICAN INDIANS, MR ANTHONY
GUZMAN. WELCOME AND YOU MAY
BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND I
WANT TO SAY IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL
TO LISTEN TO ALL THE EXPERTS.
AND. INFORMATION HAS BEEN SET
SET SAID BEFORE BECAUSE I HAVE
TO SAY THAT I ABSOLUTELY AGREE
WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID
IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS ANTHONY KOOSMAN. AND
I AM UH, CHIEF CULTURAL DIRECTOR
AT THE FRIENDSHIP HOUSE
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN INDIAN
INK. AND SAN FRANCISCO,
CALIFORNIA. I AM. I'M NOT. SO
EXCITED AGAIN TO BE HERE TO
SPEAK ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT
TOPIC. I AM A I'M, AN ENROLLED
MEMBER OF THE NORTHERN NEW TRIBE
AND ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE AND ON
MY FATHER'S SIDE MEXICAN
AMERICAN. HE WAS BORN IN TIJUANA
, MEXICO, AND MOVED TO
WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA WHEN HE
WAS THREE YEARS OLD. THE
FRIENDSHIP PALACE IS AN
ORGANIZATION THAT UTILIZES AN
AMERICAN, INDIAN AND ALASKAN
NATIVE, CULTURALLY BASED MODEL.
BUILT THROUGH THE EXPERT
EXPERTISE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH A
SIMILAR AND LIVED EXPERIENCE.
FRIENDSHIP POSSIBLE LEAVES. NO
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRIBAL
TRADITIONS AND TRADITIONAL WAYS
AND DISTINGUISHES THESE WAYS
FROM WESTERN CULTURE IS
IMPORTANT PART OF THE RECOVERY
PROCESS. FRIENDSHIP POSSIBLE
LEAVES THAT PEOPLE FACING CRISIS
AND RECOVERY FINDS STRENGTH AND
COMMUNITY. IN RELATING TO THOSE
THAT HAVE TRAVELED TRAVEL OF
SIMILAR ROAD AND FINDING PURPOSE
AND RECONNECTING WITH CULTURE AS
A SOURCE OF IDENTITY AND A
PATHWAY TO BETTER MENTAL,
EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
WE YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
STICK STIGMATIZATION OF MENTAL
HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY. AND.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE
TOUCHED ON BY BY OUR WITNESSES
EARLIER AND TODAY IS THAT THIS
STIGMATIZATION OF THE MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITION OF OUR PEOPLE
BEGIN SO VERY LONG AGO. YOU
KNOW, WE COULD LOOK BACK JUST
RECENTLY. BUT OFTEN TIMES THESE
THESE ISSUES THAT HAVE FACED, UH
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BEGAN WHEN THE
LANDS WERE TAKEN AWAY. YOU KNOW,
FEDERAL POLICY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE
SEEN IN 18 83, YOU KNOW? BEGIN
THEN, WHEN OUR INDIGENOUS
CEREMONIES FOR ALL PEOPLE WERE
TAKEN AWAY FROM US THOSE WERE
OUR METHODOLOGIES FOR ENSURING
THAT WE DEALT WITH OUR TRAUMA
THROUGH OUR CEREMONIES. THAT WAS
OUR TRAUMA, INFORMED CARE. THAT
WAS HOW WE DEALT NOT ONLY WITH
THE GRIEF AND THE LOSS AND THE
THINGS THAT HAPPENING AS THE
HUMAN EXPERIENCE, SO WHEN THOSE
THINGS WERE NOT ONLY TAKEN AWAY
FROM US WITH, ALONG WITH THEIR
LAND AND THE DIET IMPACTED THE
SOCIETY OF OUR PEOPLE. SO IT
WASN'T JUST THE STIGMATIZATION
OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION
AND IT WAS THE STIGMA OF BEING
AN INDIGENOUS PERSON. WHAT DID
THAT DO? TO THE VERY FABRIC OF
THE SOCIETY OF NATIVE PEOPLES. I
THINK WE CAN SEE THAT WHEN WE
START LOOKING AT THE STATISTICS
OF SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
NOW, TODAY, YOU KNOW WE'VE AGAIN
WE'VE HEARD THIS THROUGH OUR
TESTIMONIES EARLIER.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT HISTORICAL
TRAUMA IS INTERGENERATIONAL
TRAUMA IS AND WHAT IT IS THAT
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE LIVED
EXPERIENCE IN TRAUMA THAT PEOPLE
ARE CURRENTLY HAVING NOW HOW DO
WE CHANGE THAT FROM COMMUNITY TO
FIND BEST PRACTICES AND HOW? HOW
DO WE DIDN'T DE STIGMATIZE THAT
AS AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS
TAKING BACK THAT NARRATIVE? WHEN
WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO THE
FRIENDSHIP PALACE. THEY'RE
COMING INTO A CEREMONY,
UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE HOLY
BEINGS. THEY ARE SACRED BEINGS.
THEY ARE NOT POST TRAUMATIC
STRESS. DALE SORTER. THEY ARE
NOT BIPOLAR DISORDER. THEY ARE
NOT DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY. THEY
ARE EXPERIENCING THESE THINGS.
AND BY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND
THAT THEY ARE NOT THEIR
DIAGNOSIS THROUGH. UH SENT, UH,
SENT UP PATIENT CENTERED CARE.
BYE BYE. LOOK BY BY PROVIDING
THEM WITH UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE
REGARD AND TREATING THEM AS SUCH
, AS IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE
FRIENDSHIP HOUSE HAS BEEN DOING
FOR 50 YEARS. AND THIS THIS THIS
MODEL OF CARE HAS NOW REACHED
OUT TO OTHER TREATMENT
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS INDIAN
COUNTRY AS A MODEL THAT HAS BEEN
UTILIZED BY MANY NATIONS. AND
QUITE HONESTLY, YOU KNOW,
FRIENDSHIP PALACE DOESN'T JUST
SERVICE ONLY NATIVE PEOPLE, EVEN
THOUGH THAT'S WHO ARE PRIMARY
CLIENTELE OR ARE NON NATIVE
RELATIVES WHO COME THROUGH.
ABSOLUTELY START TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BE A HOLY AND
SPIRITUAL SACRED BEING, AND WHEN
WE START TO TREAT THEM AS SUCH,
SOMETHING CHANGES THERE'S A
SAYING AND INDIGENOUS AND
INDIGENOUS TEACHING IS ALL MY
RELATIONS AND AS YOU COULD HEAR
TODAY, OR AFRICAN AMERICAN
RELATIVES, UM AND OUR LAND,
NATURAL MOTIVES IN AN AWFUL
OAKS. WHEN WE START TO TREATY
OTHER THROUGH THIS ALL MY
RELATIONS IDEOLOGY, WE START TO
BUILD THE RELATIONSHIPS AND AS
AS, AS OUR RELATIVES SAID
EARLIER. WHAT IS THE WORD
DETERMINES THE BEST OUTCOME FOR
MENTAL HEALTH CARE OFTENTIMES
ISN'T ALWAYS BASED UPON PARADIGM
, BUT IT'S BASED UPON THE
RELATIONSHIP. THAT THAT THE
PROVIDER HAS, WITH THE
INDIVIDUAL SITTING ACROSS FROM
THEM. AND AT THE FRIENDSHIP
HOUSE. WE KNOW THAT THROUGH
THROUGH THAT RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING ISN'T JUST STARTING
INSIDE OF THE TREATMENT CENTER,
BUT IT ALSO BEGINS BEFORE PEOPLE
GET THERE THROUGH OUTREACH AND
PREVENTION AND EARLY
INTERVENTION. WHEN YOU ARE A
KNOWN, UH, PROVIDER IN THE
COMMUNITY WHEN YOU SHOW UP
BEFORE THOSE CRISES HAPPEN WHEN
YOU WHEN YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
BY ENGAGING PEOPLE THROUGH THAT
SOCIAL CONNECTION, YOU BECOME A
TRUSTED AGENT. TRUSTED AGENT OF
THE COMMUNITY. SO WHEN YOU SAY
YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK IT'S RUDE.
I THINK YOU MIGHT NEED TO TALK
TO A THERAPIST OR OR OUR MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDER, OR YOU KNOW
WHAT? IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA
FOR YOU TO CHECK IN AND THINK
ABOUT GOING TO THE FRIENDSHIP
PLASTIC TO ADDRESS YOUR
SUBSTANCE USE. IT'S STARTS. YOU
KNOW, OUTSIDE OF THAT, OUTSIDE
OF THAT DIAGNOSIS, OR THE MENTAL
HEALTH, MENTAL OR THE TREATMENT
CENTER, SO WITH OUR WITH LOOKING
AT OUR PREVENTATIVE SERVICES AS
WELL. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
TREATING PEOPLE WITH THIS WITH
WITH WITH WITH MENTAL HEALTH
WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, YOU
KNOW, IT'S NOT NEW, HOLISTIC
HEALTH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE
ALL HEARD ECHOED AGAIN AND
AGAIN. AND. BUT WE KNOW AND I'M
SO VERY PROUD OF THAT ARE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WITH THE USE
OF THE MEDICINE WILL AND OUR
CEREMONIAL APPROACH TO WHOLENESS
AND WELLNESS. UM, UNDERSTANDING
THAT OUR SOCIAL CONNECTION IS SO
CRITICAL AND POSITIVE HEALTH
OUTCOMES ARE MENTAL HEALTH. OR
PHYSICAL HEALTH. AND OUR
SPIRITUAL HEALTH. THE FEELING OF
SAFETY THAT WE NEED WHEN WE WHEN
WE WHEN WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES A
VILLAGE TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN
INTO INTO EMBRACE EACH OTHER. SO
YOU KNOW, TODAY WE'RE HERE TO
TALK ABOUT. YOU KNOW THESE
MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY
AND SPECIFICALLY, HOW EXACTLY
HAS HAS OUR COMMUNITY AND
CULTURALLY BASED MODEL ASSIST
ASSISTED THE SUCCESS OF THE
STIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AGAIN? IT'S
TAKING BACK THAT NARRATIVE AND
LETTING LETTING OUR RELATIVES
AND OUR MEMBERS KNOW OF THE
COMMUNITY THAT IT'S NOT. JUST
YOU. YOU ARE NOT YOUR DIAGNOSIS
, UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR RESULTS
AS A AS A LONG HISTORY. THAT HAS
IMPACTED ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT
YOU KNOW WHEN, WHEN? WHEN OUR
FOLKS WERE TAKEN OFF THE
RESERVATION, AND THE LAND WAS
TAKEN YOUR FOOD AND YOUR
LIFESTYLE WAS TAKING YOUR
CEREMONIES WERE TAKEN. AND THAT
CHANGED YOU EVEN SEE THOSE
FEDERAL POLICIES THAT IMPACTED
EVEN UP UNTIL 1953 THE INDIAN.
THE INDIAN RELOCATION ACT, WHICH
TAKES WHICH TOOK AMERICAN INDIAN
, UM YOUNG YOUNG FOLKS OFF THE
RESERVATION TO SEND THEM INTO
THE QUEUE ME CITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY IN ORDER TO ERADICATE
THE INDIAN. INTO THIS THAT
DISMISSED THE TRUST
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TREATIES
THAT WERE FOUGHT FOR BY THE
ANCESTORS. THAT WAS ATTEMPT TO
ONE REMOVE THE IDENTITY OF THE
INDIAN INDIAN PERSON AND WITH
THE FIGHTING SPIRIT THAT RUNS
THROUGH THE BLOOD OF ALL OF MY
RELATIVES THAT JUST DID NOT
HAPPEN. AND WHAT WE FOUND. WAS
THAT ALL THOSE FOLKS COMING
TOGETHER IN THESE CITIES DIDN'T
LOSE THEIR IDENTITY. IT ONLY
STRENGTHENED THEIR RESOLVE, AND
PLACES LIKE THE FRIENDSHIP
PALACE EMERGED. THE NATIVE
AMERICAN HEALTH CENTER EMERGED,
AMERICAN INDIAN CHILD RESOURCE
CENTER MERGED INTO TRIBAL
FRIENDSHIP PAST EMERGED WITH
MANY OTHERS IN THE BAY AREA
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND SO IN
1978, THE INDIAN RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM ACT HAPPENED. WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS ALL THE
WAY FROM 18 83 TAKE A 1978
AMERICAN INDIAN CEREMONY AND WAS
OUT STILL OUTLAWED. AND SO TODAY
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, HOW DO WE
HEAL OUR PEOPLE WITH WITH WITH
WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
IT IS. THE UTILIZATION OF
CURRENT WESTERN PART PRACTICES,
BUT ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTANDING
THAT OUR CEREMONIES IN OUR
TRADITIONAL WAYS OF HEALING OUR
ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM
IS INTEGRATED INTO THOSE
PRACTICES, AND THAT IS WHEN WE
SEE OR RELATIVES LEAN IN CLOSER
AND TRUST THAT MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS WENT UNDERSTANDING,
CULTURAL CALM, HAVING CULTURAL
COMPETENCY AND THE CULTURAL
HUMILITY TO PROVIDE THAT TYPE OF
CARE. WE SEE OUTCOMES HAPPENING
AND WE CAN SEE A CONTINUATION OF
THE FANTASTIC WORK THAT THE
FRIENDSHIP HAS HAS BEEN
PROVIDING FOR OVER 50 YEARS, SO
YOU KNOW, I AM SO HAPPY TO BE
HERE AND TALKING ABOUT THESE,
UM, TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
TODAY AS GROWING UP ON AN INDIAN
RESERVATION. I'M IN A RURAL AND
RURAL UTAH AND NOW BEING IN A
CITY I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES
FACED IN THE COMMUNITY AND BOTH
SIDES. YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE
RURAL COMMUNITY BEING HERE IN
URBAN AREA, BUT THE ONE AND THEN
THE THINGS THAT WORK IN THE
CITIES DON'T ALWAYS WORK IN THE
IN THE IN THE RURAL AND WHAT
WORKS IN THE WORLD DOESN'T
ALWAYS WORK IN THE CITIES. BUT
WHAT I'VE SEEN BY MY BY MY
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT
CEREMONIAL WISDOM AND
INTEGRATION INTO MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS. AND SOUND MENTAL
HEALTH, CULTURAL, CULTURAL
HUMILITY FOR THOSE PROVIDERS
DOES WORK IN BOTH AREAS. SO UM,
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TO SHARE
SOME OF THIS TODAY AND I AND I
WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
FOR ME AT THIS TIME.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PELLERIN. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. SO I
KNOW THAT SUICIDE RATES ARE VERY
HIGH IN THE NATIVE AMERICAN
COMMUNITY OF WHAT MORE CAN WE
DO? TO HELP IN THAT AREA. YOU
KNOW WHAT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
SUICIDES IN INDIAN COUNTRY, I
THINK THERE'S SUCH A IT'S SUCH A
MASSIVE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE. WE
HAVE A FEDERAL, YOU KNOW,
PROVIDERS OUT THERE AND TRIBAL
PROVIDERS OUT THERE THAT WE
ALWAYS NEED MORE RESOURCES. BUT
WE ALSO NEED WE ALSO NEED OF
THOSE PROFESSIONALS AND LICENSED
CLINICIANS THAT HAVE THE TYPE
THAT THE CULTURAL TRAINING NOT
ONLY JUST IN ON THE RESERVATIONS
, BUT ALSO HERE IN OUR URBAN
SETTINGS, TOO. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I KNOW THAT WOULD BE SO
VERY HELPFUL FOR OUR URBAN
INDIAN ORGANIZATIONS AND
PARTICULARLY IN SUCH AS
FRIENDSHIP HOUSES THAT
OFTENTIMES WEEK WE DO NOT HAVE
THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.
AMERICAN INDIAN MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS, WHICH MAKES A MASSIVE
DIFFERENCE WHEN, WHEN PROVIDING
TREATMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT
IF WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE OR
TREATMENT PROVIDERS BE ABLE TO
TRANSFER SOME OF THEIR LICENSES
FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY TO BE ABLE TO USE THEIR
LICENSES IN OUR URBAN INDIAN
ORGAN ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE
REALLY, REALLY POWERFUL,
BECAUSE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, TRYING
TO OBTAIN LICENSED CLINICIANS,
EVEN RIGHT NOW, IN THE STATE IS
VERY DIFFICULT, LET ALONE TRYING
TO FIND AMERICAN INDIAN LICENSED
CLINICIANS. IT'S SO VERY HARD SO
IF THERE IF THOSE LICENSES WERE
TRANSFERRABLE INTO INDIAN
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE WITH
REALLY VERY, VERY POWERFUL, AND
NOW I BELIEVE WOULD HELP
TREMENDOUSLY. WHEN COMBATING
SUICIDE AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH
DIAGNOSES AND ISSUES. UM, AND
AGAIN. I THINK I HAD MENTIONED
THIS BEFORE. BUT A SUICIDE ALSO
WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY AN
INCREASE OF OUTREACH AND
PREVENTION. MONEY'S TOO SO THAT
WHEN FOLKS ARE THAT THAT
RELATIONSHIP STARTS BEFORE THE
CRISIS. IT STARTS BEFORE THE
CRISIS AND SO TO HAVE THOSE
OUTREACH AND PREVENTION, FUNDING
AND RESOURCES THERE SO THAT
WE'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY DOING
THAT POWERFUL WORK THAT IS, I
THINK ANOTHER WAY THAT WE CAN
ENSURE THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE
SOME OF THE SUICIDE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, YOU KNOW, IN
MY DOCTORAL STUDIES WHEN I WAS
TRULY TRYING TO GRASP AH! THE
CAUSES AND REMEDIES OF
HISTORICAL TRAUMA,
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA. I
FOUND MYSELF. UH, RELYING ON THE
LITERATURE OF THE NATIVE
AMERICAN SCHOLARS. WHO WERE SO
RICH AND UNDERSTANDING. THE
PROTECTIVE FACTORS. THAT CULTURE
, LANGUAGE AND HISTORY BRAINS TO
HEALING. AND HOW I BEGAN TO MAKE
SURE I TRANSLATE THAT INTO THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AND
THE AFRICAN EXPERIENCE. UM WAS
SO PROFOUND TO ME AND HELPING ME
UNDERSTAND. WHO I AM. AND
UNDERSTANDING WHERE I NEED TO
GO. AND WHERE I NEED TO HELP MY
PEOPLE TO GO. RIGHT SO I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
TODAY. APPRECIATE YOU WANT TO
SEE THIS? YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA
REDUCING DISPARITIES PROJECT HAS
HAS WORKED IN IN MANY WAYS WITH
WITH SOME OF OUR OTHER SISTER
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE BAY
AREA, AND ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS
WAS CULTURE IS PREVENTION. MHM
WITHOUT A DOUBT, SO YOU KNOW,
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME AND APPRECIATE YOU. THANK
YOU. AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT
LEAST WE HAVE THE CALIFORNIA'S
WE TQ HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
NETWORK BY DANNY'S XENA. UM,
PLEASE, COME ON. AH! OH WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE ON OUR SCREEN HERE
. WELCOME YOU. THERE I AM. THANK
YOU SO MUCH ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU
ALL. UM NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM,
SO AS MENTIONED, MY NAME IS
DANNY CAESONIA, AND I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA LGBTQ
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
NETWORK. AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK
ON LGBT Q MENTAL HEALTH
DISPARITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA
NEXT LIKE THIS. UM SO WE ARE
FUNDED BY THE NHS O A C TO DO
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE
RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE
THE LGBT Q. MENTAL HEALTH
DISPARITIES ARE AND EVERY YEAR
WE TAKE THOSE RESULTS, AND WE
COMPILE IT INTO OUR ANNUAL STATE
OF THE COMMUNITY REPORT. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. SO SOME OF THE
WAYS THAT WE CONDUCT OUR
RESEARCH OUR IN THESE SPECIFIC
STEPS, SO THE FIRST THING THAT
WE DO IS THAT WE CONDUCT KEY
INFORMANT INTERVIEWS WITH LGBTQ
LEADERS AND RESEARCHERS FROM
ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND THIS ISN'T
JUST THE BAY AREA LA OR SAN
DIEGO, WHERE ALSO SPEAKING TO
LEADERS. WITH AN ESSENTIAL
VALLEY, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
IMPERIAL VALLEY AS FAR EAST AS
LIKE, BLITHE AND SUCH, AND
REALLY ENSURING AS WELL THAT WE
ARE HITTING THE
INTERSECTIONALITY OF LGBTQ
LEADERS MYSELF BEING A TRUE
SPIRIT INDIVIDUAL, UM AND NATIVE
I'M REALLY ENSURING THAT WE HAVE
ARE NATIVE TO SPIRIT VOICES.
AFRICAN AMERICAN BLACK LATINA
ÁP. AYE, ETCETERA. THE SECOND
THING THAT WE DO IT AFTER THE
KID FROM INTERVIEWS IS THAT WE
HOST LISTENING SESSIONS WITH
MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, SO WE ARE VERY
INTENTIONAL, WITH PARTNER
PARTNERING WITH LOCAL LGBTQ
ORGANIZATIONS, UM AND REALLY
SITTING DOWN AND ASKING, YOU
KNOW QUESTIONS REGARDING THEIR
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
WHAT ARE THEIR CHALLENGES AND
BARRIERS? WHAT PREVENTS THEM
FROM SEEKING ACCESS TO MENTAL
HEALTH? AND, UM, WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY HAVE
WITH NAVIGATING INSURANCES? WE
ALSO WILL SPEAK TO FOLKS YOU
KNOW, AFTER PRESS CONFERENCES
WHEN WE HAVE TOWN HALLS, UM AND
THEN WE ALSO ENGAGE WITH ON AND
EVEN MICRO LEVEL GRASSROOTS
LGBTQ ORGANIZERS. THROUGH THE
VARIOUS SUBCONTRACTS THAT WE
PROVIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO
FROM THERE WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE
THAT INFORMATION AND WE
DEVELOPED A STATEWIDE PUBLIC
INTERCEPT SURVEY WHERE, SINCE WE
NOW COLLECTED THE QUALITATIVE
DATA WE NOW WANT TO QUALITY
COLLECT THE QUANTITATIVE DATA
AND REALLY GET THE NUMBERS AND
PERCENTAGES OF WHAT EXACTLY THE
COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING. AND
HOW DO THEY SEE WHAT ADVOCACY
SHOULD LOOK LIKE FOR US TO
REALLY PUSH? YOU KNOW THE MENTAL
HEALTH NARRATIVE FOR THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY AND THEN THE LAST
THING THAT WE DO ONCE WE RECEIVE
OUR SURVEY RESULTS WE COMPILED
TOGETHER YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE
QUOTES AND EVERYTHING WE PRESENT
ALL OF OUR FINDINGS TO LGBTQ
LEADERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA BY
HOSTING A GALLERY WALK. AND WE
DO THIS GALLERY WALK VIA WEBINAR
. SO THAT WAY EVERYBODY HAS A
CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE AND REVIEW
THE RESULTS AND PROVIDE AND
IDENTIFY SYSTEMIC ENVIRONMENTAL
AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS,
WHICH ALL GOES INTO OUR ANNUAL
STATE OF THE COMMUNITY REPORT.
SO FROM START TO FINISH, LGBT Q
VOICES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. AS WELL
AS WE'RE CONDUCTING RESEARCH.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO WHERE I
REALLY WANT TO START OFF IS I
WANTED TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL
SPECIFIC QUOTES AND STORIES FROM
THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, SO THAT WAY
YOU HEAR FROM THEM DIRECTLY
THROUGH ME AND THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL OF WHAT
THEIR EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN LIKE
IN TRYING TO ACCESS MENTAL
HEALTH CARE. SO WE HAVE THIS
INDIVIDUAL FROM IMPERIAL VALLEY
WHO IS UNABLE TO FIND ANY TYPE
OF GENDER SPECIALISTS OR ANYONE
WHO IS KNOWLEDGEABLE AND
TRANSLATED HEALTHCARE, SO THESE
INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO DRIVE TWO
HOURS OR MORE INTO SAN DIEGO ONE
WAY IN ORDER TO MEET WITH A
PROVIDER, WHETHER IT'S A MEDICAL
OR MENTAL HEALTH. THIS MEANS
THAT MANY TIMES OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAVE TO TAKE AN ENTIRE
DAY OFF WORK TO DRIVE FOUR HOURS
OR MORE ROUND TRIP JUST TO
RECEIVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH
CARE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS
NEXT COMMITTEE MEMBER FROM L. A
COUNTY HAS EVEN THOUGH L A
COUNTY IS EXTREMELY UM L G B T Q
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HAS SO MANY
RESOURCES. IT'S STILL EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO FIND THERAPISTS WHO
ARE NOT ONLY LGBTQ AFFIRMING,
BUT ALSO CULTURALLY COMPETENT
AND WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT
CULTURALLY COMPETENT, IT'S NOT
JUST THE LANGUAGE. BUT ALSO ARE
INTERSECTING IDENTITIES AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, AND
TO SPIRIT NATIVE I'M LATINA. L G
B T Q. I'M SOMEBODY WHO LIVES
WITH A DISABILITY AND SUCH SO
EVEN FOR MYSELF WHEN I AM
SEEKING A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER
, I WANT TO KNOW THAT I CAN
SPEAK WITH SOMEONE THAT'S GONNA
UNDERSTAND ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT FACETS OF MY LIFE.
THAT I NEED TO TALK THROUGH AND
NAVIGATE WITH NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. UM THIS NEXT COMMUNITY
MEMBER HAD A REALLY HARD TIME
FINDING EVEN A BISEXUAL FRIENDLY
THERAPIST AND A LOT OF THE QUOTE
SAID INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED FROM OUR BISEXUAL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS THE FACT
THAT MANY THERAPISTS WILL TELL
THE BISEXUAL COMMUNITY WELL,
YOU'RE HALFWAY TO STRAIGHT. WHY
NOT? JUST GO THE REST OF THE
WAY. SO WHEN ARE BISEXUAL
COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO SEEK OUT
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND KEEPS
BEING DISMISSED FOR THEIR SEXUAL
ORIENTATION? THEY START TO GIVE
UP ON TRYING TO FIND A THERAPIST
TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. AND THIS IS
WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH NOT ONLY
THE BISEXUAL COMMUNITY BUT THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE,
WHERE THEY'RE JUST LIKE I GIVE
UP. I'M NOT EVEN GONNA LOOK FOR
A THERAPIST. YOU KNOW THEY'RE
NOT TAKING INSURANCE OR THEY
DISMISS MY SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR
GENDER IDENTITY. I'M JUST DONE
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM THIS NEXT
INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCED EXTREME
RACISM AS WELL AS VIOLENCE. SO
WHEN SOMEONE WHO IS A QUEER OR A
MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
AND HAS THAT ADDED LAYER OF AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT
INTERSECTIONALITY OF BEING A
PERSON OF COLOR AND EXPERIENCING
RACISM UM, AGAIN, IT'S REALLY
HARD TO FIND A MENTION OF
PROVIDER OR THERAPIST THAT IS
ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATE
ALL OF THOSE LAYERS ON TOP OF
LAYERS WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING
THROUGH OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND
WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. UM SO FOR THIS ONE IS
ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A
QUEER PERSON OF COLOR. UM, AND
THEY BARELY FOUND A PERSON OF
COLOR, COMPETENT THERAPIST, YOU
KNOW, AND MIND YOU. THIS IS
SOMEONE WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL
WHO IS VERY WELL EDUCATED,
HOWEVER, WHEN NAVIGATING THEIR
INSURANCE AND LOOKING THROUGH
RESOURCES AND TRYING TO FIND
SOMEONE THAT WAS AFFORDABLE THAT
THEY CAN GAIN ACCESS TO IT WAS
STILL A EXTREME STRUGGLE WHERE
YOU KNOW FOUR YEARS TO FIND A
MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN SHOULD
NOT BE ANYONE'S TESTIMONY OR
ANYONE STATEMENT, YOU KNOW, AS
WE'RE TALKING TO FOLKS ACROSS
THE STATE, AND YOU KNOW, I EVEN
KNOW THIS TO BE PERSONALLY TRUE
BECAUSE IT TOOK MYSELF OVER A
YEAR AND A HALF TO FIND MY OWN
THERAPIST AND MY OWN THERAPIST
ISN'T EVEN NEAR ANYWHERE WHERE I
LIVE. I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES
COUNTY, AND MY THERAPIST IS
BASED IN SACRAMENTO. AND I HAVE
TO ZOOM IN WITH HER ALL THE TIME
BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THAT
UNDERSTANDS ALL OF MY
INTERSECTIONALITY EASE. UM AND
NOW THAT I HAVE HER BECAUSE IT
TOOK ME SO LONG TO FIND HER. I
REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER
INSURANCE SHE ACCEPTS THAT
THAT'S THE INSURANCE THAT I
HAVE. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GO
THROUGH THE HASSLE AND THROUGH
THE TRAUMA OF TRYING TO FIND A
THERAPIST AGAIN. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. SO THIS IS A MEMBER FROM
SHASTA COUNTY, THE MOST NORTHERN
PART OF CALIFORNIA AND THIS
INDIVIDUAL REALLY SHARED HOW
THEY FIND BASIC SAFETY TO BE
LACKING, WHICH IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY THEY WANT ACCESS TO
MENTAL HEALTH CARE BUT HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE IT. UM, AND
THEIR QUOTE JUST REALLY SHOWS
THAT BY THEN, JUST EXISTING YOU
KNOW, WEARING A PRIDE SHIRT OR
SOMETHING WITH THE RAINBOW ON IT
, MINDING YOUR OWN BUSINESS,
RUNNING ERRANDS AND HAVING
PEOPLE YELL AT YOU. YOU KNOW
ABOUT YOUR WHO YOU LOVE OR HOW
YOU IDENTIFY IS CALIFORNIA, ONE
OF THE MOST AFFIRMING STATES IN
THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY. YES. IS THERE A
LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE TO
EDUCATE THE KENNEDY MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS? INSURANCE
AGENCIES, ETCETERA? ABSOLUTELY
YES. IF YOU DO NOT LIVE AND IT
LASTS. ANGELES SAN FRANCISCO,
THE BAY AREA OR SAN DIEGO AND
YOU GO TO MORE OF THE RURAL
AREAS OF THE STATE. LGBTQ PEOPLE
STILL LIVE THERE AND L G B T Q.
PEOPLE HAVE LITERALLY NO ACCESS
TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE. THESE ARE
THE FOLKS THAT ARE DRIVING TWO
HOURS OR MORE ONE WAY IF THEY
HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO. YOU
KNOW, SO THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE
SOMEONE WHO LIVES ALL THE WAY
AND SHASTA DOES NOT HAVE THE
MEANS TO DRIVE TO SOUTH
FRANCISCO OR EVEN DOWN THE
SACRAMENTO FOR CARE. BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE. THEY
DON'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN
DRIVE THEM DOWN, SO THEY ARE
UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO ACCESS
ANY TYPE OF THERAPY OR
PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. SO ANOTHER MEMBER
FROM SHASTA COUNTY REALLY TALKED
ABOUT HOW IT DID FIND A
THERAPIST THAT YOU KNOW WHAT SAY
YEAH. COME ON IN FOR, UH,
EVALUATION WHEN THEY WERE CALLED
TO THE BACK. THEY OUTED THE
PERSON, UM, IN FRONT OF EVERYONE
IN THE OFFICE, YOU KNOW, OUT OF
AS TRANSGENDER IN AN AREA THAT
IS NOT SAFE OR AFFIRMING. FOR
LGBTQ PEOPLE TO BE VISIBLE, SO
IT ENDED UP PUTTING ADDITIONAL
NEGATIVE VIEWS ON THAT
INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITIES
MINDS. UM AND YOU KNOW, FOLKS
WHO LIVE IN SHASTA COUNTY ARE IN
SMALLER, RURAL AREAS. EVERYBODY
KNOWS EVERYBODY SO NOW BECAUSE
THAT PERSON WAS OUTED, IT MAKES
IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR THEM TO
EVEN STEP OUTSIDE BECAUSE NOW
THEY ARE A TARGETS. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. SO THIS IS FROM A MEMBER
AND OAKLAND WHO REALLY SHARED
THAT EVEN IF THEY ARE ABLE TO
FIND A THERAPIST, IT'S VERY HARD
TO EVEN PAY TO SEE OR UTILIZE
THAT THERAPISTS BECAUSE OF THE
COSTS AND ADDITIONALLY, A LOT OF
THERAPISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS AND
OTHER MENTAL PROVIDERS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY. DON'T ACCEPT MEDICAL
AND EVEN IF THEY HAVE A SLIDING
SCALE FEE, EVEN THOUGH THE LOWER
END OF THAT FEE IS STILL OUT OF
REACH IN THE FINANCIAL SENSE, SO
MANY TIMES OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE AND
DECISION OF DO I PAY FOR THERAPY
APPOINTMENT OR DO I STAY THAT
MONEY SO I CAN PAY RENTS? OR PAY
MY CELL PHONE BILL OR PUT FOOD
ON THE TABLE OR GAS IN MY CAR.
SO WHEN OUR COMMUNITY HAS TO
MAKE THOSE CHOICES OF DO THEY
SAVED THEIR MONEY SO THEY CAN
SURVIVE OR DO THEY GO TO THERAPY
? THEY'RE GONNA SAVE THEIR MONEY
TO SURVIVE AND FORGO THE THERAPY
, WHICH THEN ADDS ON THAT
ADDITIONAL TRAUMA ONTO THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. UM SO AGAIN IN OAKLAND,
UM THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO
TALKED ABOUT HOW THERAPY
APPOINTMENT TIMES AREN'T EVEN
ACCESSIBLE, WHICH IS 100% TRUE,
YOU KNOW, UH, MAJORITY OF
THERAPISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS
ONLY PROVIDES SERVICES MONDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 9 TO 5. PM
THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE
ARE WORKING. AND SO MANY FOLKS
ARE UNABLE TO TAKE EXTENDED
LUNCHES OR OR A MORE TIME OFF
WORK IN ORDER TO SEE A MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDER, BUT THEY ARE
AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, IN THE
EVENINGS OR ON WEEKENDS, BUT
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT WHEN MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE AVAILABLE,
SO THEY'RE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE
SERVICES. THAT THEY DESPERATELY
NEED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO UM
, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE
AND AGAIN, THIS ONE'S FROM
OAKLAND OF PERSONS OF COLOR
GOING THROUGH TRAUMA EVERY DAY.
UM AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY
REALLY HAVE TO TURN DOWN MENTAL
HEALTH CARE BECAUSE AGAIN OF THE
COSTS AND WHEN IT COMES TO
LIVING AS PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOU
KNOW SO MANY OF US DON'T HAVE
ACCESS, YOU KNOW, TO RESOURCES
OR FUNDING OR HIGH PAYING JOBS.
THAT OTHER PEOPLE TAKE FOR
GRANTED, AND IT REALLY GOES BACK
TO THAT WHOLE MAKING THE CHOICE
OF DO I PAY FOR WHAT MY NEEDS
ARE OR DO I PAY FOR THERAPY, YOU
KNOW, AND REALLY NO. ONE IN
CALIFORNIA REGARDLESS OF THEIR
MEMBERS OF THE LGBT Q. Q UNITY.
UM IF THEY'RE ÁP AYE, AFRICAN
AMERICAN BLACK NATIVE AMERICAN
CAUCASIAN. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT ANY OF FORD. ACCESS
TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. SO UM, KIND
COMING A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO
SACRAMENTO OVER TO AMADOR COUNTY
. UM THIS INDIVIDUAL TALKED
ABOUT WHENEVER THEY WERE IN
CRISIS MODE AND TALKING ABOUT
THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR
PSYCHIATRIST. THEIR PSYCHIATRIST
WOULD REALLY DISMISSED THEIR.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND WHAT'S
BEING A QUEER? COUPLE? ACTUALLY.
AND REALLY A COMPARISON OF HOW
HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES LIVE THEIR
LIVES, YOU KNOW, REALLY PUTTING
OUT YOU'RE THE WIFE. YOU NEED TO
HAVE THE WIFELY DUTIES. YOU
KNOW, SHE'S THE HUSBAND. YOU
KNOW, SHE NEEDS TO DO THE
HUSBAND SAYING, YOU KNOW,
INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING THAT
THIS IS A JOINT RELATIONSHIP
WHERE EVERYONE IS EQUAL. AND
INSTEAD IT REALLY TRIGGERED AND
ENHANCED THEIR BIPOLAR ISSUES
THAT THEY WERE ALREADY
STRUGGLING, NAVIGATING AND
CONTROLLING, SO WE HAVE EVEN HAD
EXPERIENCES OF MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS, ADDING ONTO THE
TRAUMA THAT OUR COMMUNITY
ALREADY, UH, FACES. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. SO UM, ALSO IN AMADOR
COUNTY. WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL
CALL LIKE 40 DOCTORS IN THEIR
AREA AND THE MOMENT THAT THEY
MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE
TRANSGENDER, AND THAT THEY'RE
SEEKING ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE
OR MENTAL HEALTH CARE, THEY WERE
TOLD. BASICALLY THAT'S TOO MUCH
EFFORT FOR PHYSICIAN AND YOUR
KIND IS REALLY HARD TO TAKE CARE
OF. AND WE CALL THIS THE L G B T
Q BROKEN ARM WHERE IT'S VERY
MUCH A WE'RE ONLY GOING TO LOOK
AT YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND
GENDER IDENTITY AND NOT LOOK AT
ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU MIGHT
NEED ASSISTANCE WITH AND JUST
AUTOMATICALLY REJECT CARE FOR
YOU. AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS A
VERY COMMON NARRATIVE ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, WHERE IT IS
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND
PHYSICIANS AND MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS WHO ARE WILLING TO
LEARN. HEALTH AND OUR MENTAL
HEALTH. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO
I'M KIND OF GOING BACK DOWN TO
RIVERSIDE COUNTY. THIS IS FROM,
UH, EDUCATOR WITHIN THE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
WHO SHARED THAT THEY REALLY TRY
TO TEACH THEIR STUDENTS AND MAKE
THEIR QUEER STUDENTS STILL
NORMAL AT SCHOOL AND NOT FEEL
LIKE A MINORITY. UM HOWEVER,
BEING THE ONLY QUEER TEACHER ON
CAMPUS. THEY'RE ALWAYS EDUCATING
. YOU KNOW THEIR COLLEAGUES,
THEIR ADMIN STAFF AND EVERYTHING
AND CONSTANTLY EDUCATING
EVERYONE AROUND THEM. JUST SO
THAT WAY THE STUDENTS WOULD HAVE
SOMEONE THAT THEY CAN BE
COMFORTABLE WITH, AND LIVING
THEIR TRUE AUTHENTIC LIVES AND
SUCH. HOWEVER IT REALLY PLAYED
ON THIS EDUCATORS OAN MENTAL
HEALTH. BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID
THEY HAVE TO PUT OUT THE TIME
AND ENERGY TO BE A TEACHER, AND
TO REALLY RAISE UP AND BRING UP
THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS,
BUT THEY'RE ALSO EXPELLING
ADDITIONAL ENERGY ON EDUCATING
EVERYONE AROUND THEM ABOUT THE L
G B T Q COMMUNITY, SO THAT WAY
THEY COULD CREATE THAT SAFE
SPACE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO
I'M KIND OF GOING NOW TO HILLARY
. UM ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS
REALLY TALKED ABOUT IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY WAS WHEN IT CAME
TO SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL
HEALTH. THERE ARE NO REHABS OR
ANY FACILITIES OR RECOVERY. THE
HOMES THAT ARE L G B T Q
FRIENDLY AND THIS WASN'T JUST IN
THE CENTRAL VALLEY. WE HEARD
THIS. THIS WAS ANOTHER ONE. WE
HEARD ALL ACROSS CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING LOS ANGELES, SAN
FRANCISCO, OAKLAND. SAN DIEGO,
UM WHERE L G B T Q. RECOVERY
HOMES REALLY DO NOT EXIST. AND
THE RECOVERY AND REHABS THAT DO
SAY THAT THEY ARE LGBT Q.
AFFIRMING ACTUALLY ARE NOT, AND
THEY ACTUALLY CAUSE ADDITIONAL
TRAUMA WHERE L G B T Q. PATIENTS
LEAVE THE FACILITY EARLY BECAUSE
THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE, WHICH
THEN THEY FALL BACK INTO
SUBSTANCE ABUSE. BECAUSE OF THE
WAY THEY WERE TRIGGERED IN THE
REHAB IN THE RECOVERY HOME IN
THE DIFFERENT SOBER LIVING
SITUATIONS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO UM, KIND OF GOING NOW OVER TO
OUR NATIVE AND CHOOSE SPIRIT.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UM YOU KNOW,
THIS IS WHAT THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKER RELEASE SPOKE ON.
PREVIOUSLY ON HOW WE DON'T JUST
HAVE OUR OWN TRAUMA, BUT WE
CARRY THE TRAUMA OF OUR
ANCESTORS AND OUR PARENTS, AND
IT'S REALLY CALLED HISTORICAL
TRAUMA. SO WHAT WE REALLY NEED
TO SEE MORE OF, YOU KNOW, JUST
ACROSS THE BOARD ARE THOSE
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROVIDERS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO UM, FOR
THIS, THE LAST QUOTE FOR THE
CHALLENGES THAT THE COMMUNITY IS
EXPERIENCING IS THAT THERE
AREN'T ANY CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
CLASSES BEING OFFERED TO THE
VARIOUS POPULATIONS OF FOLKS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT SERVE IN
TERMS OF ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH
CARE WHEN IT COMES TO INSURANCE
AGENCIES. THERAPISTS
PSYCHIATRISTS AND OTHER MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
PHARMACISTS DISPENSING
MEDICATIONS AND SUCH REALLY
HAVING THAT CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
WITH ALL OF OUR INTERSECTING
IDENTITIES IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO NOT TRIGGER ARE
TRIGGERS AND TRAUMA, BUT INSTEAD
PROVIDE THAT HEALING THAT WERE
DESPERATELY SEEKING BUT ARE
UNABLE TO ATTAIN. UM, NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. SO UM, I JUST
WANT TO GO OVER SOME QUICK
CONCLUSIONS WITH YOU ALL NEXT
SLIDE. UM, SO SOME OF THE COMMON
THINGS THAT WE FOUND WAS THAT
THERE IS A LACK OF LGBT Q
COMPETENT PROVIDERS, AND THERE'S
EVEN A GREATER SCARCITY OF THOSE
WORKING WITH TRANSGENDER CLIENTS
. THIS REALLY GOES BACK TO, YOU
KNOW, HAVING THOSE, UH, CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY TYPE CLASSES OR
TRAINING. FOR THE PROVIDERS,
ADDITIONALLY, BY POCKET L G B T
Q MEMBERS HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING
AND ACCESSING, CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE CARER. UM SO THIS
WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST
REALLY POPPED OUT AT US, YOU
KNOW, OVER AND OVER WITH. BOTH
ARE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE
STUDY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM,
SO THE OTHER THING WAS THAT WE
REALLY NEED THERAPISTS WHO HAVE
THESE INTERSECTING IDENTITIES.
UM AND TO BE OPEN ABOUT IT, SO
THAT WAY OUR COMMUNITY CAN'T
FIND THESE THERAPISTS AS I
MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, MY
THERAPIST IS SIX HOURS AWAY IN
SACRAMENTO, YOU KNOW, AND SHE IS
A NATIVE TO SPIRIT, QUEER
INDIVIDUAL WHO COMPLETELY
UNDERSTANDS MY INTERSECTING
IDENTITIES BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO
RELATE TO EACH OTHER.
ADDITIONALLY THERE IS A LACK OF
INSURANCE COVERAGE PROVIDERS NOT
ACCEPTING INSURANCE AND
EXTREMELY HIGH OUT OF POCKET
COSTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO
THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE SAW WAS
AS MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THIS
PRESENTATION. UM THE LOCATION
TRAVEL TIME OF TRAVELING TWO
HOURS OR MORE ONE WAY AND THE
TIME THAT APPOINTMENTS WERE
AVAILABLE HAVE BEEN BARRIERS AND
THEN FOR OUR RURAL PARTICIPANTS
, YOU KNOW THE ACTUAL DISTANCE
IS THE MAIN PROBLEM. AND WITH
OUR URBAN PARTICIPANTS, IT'S
REALLY THE TRAVEL TIME DUE TO
TRAFFIC IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO L
A. YOU KNOW, GETTING FROM ONE
SIDE OF L. A TO THE OTHER SIDE
IS EASILY TWO HOURS IN ITSELF,
YOU KNOW, FIGHTING THE TRAFFIC
ON THE 405 OR 101 FREEWAY. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, SORRY, THE
OTHER WAY. THANK YOU. SO ALL OF
OUR RESPONDENTS REALLY ENDORSE
THAT A LACK OF AFFIRMING NEARBY
PROVIDERS SCHEDULING CHALLENGES
OF FEARS OF DISCRIMINATION ON
THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION
AND GENDER IDENTITY ARE LIKE THE
MAJOR BARRIERS AND ACCESSING AND
RECEIVING TERROR. NEXT SLIDE.
PLEASE UM SO WHAT THE WHAT ARE
PARTICIPANTS REALLY CAME UP WITH
AND THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN IT CAME
TO POLICY CHANGES, SYSTEMIC
CHANGES, YOU KNOW ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
IS, YOU KNOW, ONE WE REALLY NEED
STANDARDIZED. SO G DATA
COLLECTION AND REPORTING, YOU
KNOW, AND WE REALLY NEED
INSURANCES AND PROVIDERS TO EVEN
COLLECT THIS DATA, SO THAT WAY
WE CAN SEE. YOU KNOW WHO ARE
THOSE AFFIRMING THERAPIST OR
WHAT TYPES OF TRAININGS NEED TO
BE DONE? YOU KNOW IF FOLKS
AREN'T SEEING LGBTQ PATIENTS, UM
WE REALLY NEED, YOU KNOW, LGBTQ
AFFIRMING K THROUGH 12 AS SEX
EDUCATION AND FOR YOU KNOW, NOT
ONLY FOR THE STUDENTS BUT ALSO
FOR THE OUR OWN EDUCATORS,
TEACHERS, ADMIN COUNSELORS TO
LEARN ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
AND WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE.
EXPERIENCING AND FACING IN TERMS
OF BULLYING RACISM, ETCETERA, SO
THAT WAY OUR SCHOOLS CAN BECOME
AN EVEN SAFER PLACE FOR OUR
YOUTH. UM, SO YOU KNOW, REALLY
HAVING THAT TRAINING, YOU KNOW,
FOR SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE STUFF TO
SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES WHO ARE LGBTQ ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT. WE ALSO NEED
GENDER INCLUSIVE REPRODUCTIVE
AND SEXUAL HEALTH CARE. YOU KNOW
, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH, WE NEVER THINK ABOUT
INCLUSIVE REPRODUCTIVE OR SEXUAL
HEALTH CARE. HOWEVER YOU KNOW
AGAIN, THERE IS A LOT OF TRAUMA
OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE WHEN IT
COMES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND
DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT THEY
NEED TO TALK TO THROUGH WITH
THEIR THERAPIST, BUT ARE UNABLE
TO BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THAT ARENA. UM
AND THEN WE ALSO NEED LGBT Q
PROGRAM FUNDING WHERE LGBT Q
CENTERS CAN REALLY BUILD ROBUST
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
GROUPS FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE
OUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT FEEL SAFE
GOING INTO A MEDICAL PROVIDERS,
OFFICE OR THERAPIST OFFICE, THEY
ARE FLOCKING TO OUR LOCAL LGBT Q
CENTERS LOOKING FOR SERVICES. SO
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FUND THOSE
SERVICES, SO THAT WAY THEY CAN
GAIN ACCESS TO SOCIAL AND
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THAT THEY
FULLY NEED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM THE OTHER THING IS, WE NEED
TO CREATE A LISTING OF INSURANCE
ON INSURANCE WEBSITES THAT
REALLY IDENTIFIES THE CULTURALLY
COMPETENT L G B T Q BASED
MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS, IT IS
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY
, UM, WHO ARE ABLE AND
UNDERSTAND OUR COMMUNITY. UNLESS
WE TALK TO EACH OTHER WORD OF
MOUTH AND THAT'S REALLY HOW WE
FIND OUR THERAPISTS ARE BY WORD
ABOUT BY SHARING OUR EXPERIENCES
BY SAYING, LIKE, HEY, I KNOW
THIS PERSON IS SEEING THIS
PROVIDER OVER HERE. LET ME GIVE
YOU THEIR NUMBER AND SUCH, UM
AND THEN WE ALSO NEED TO REDUCE
AND ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS TO
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS WHO
ACCEPT MEDICAL WHILE INCREASING
THAT ACCESS TO CARE. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. UM AND THEN, AS
MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO
FUND L G B T Q ORGANIZATIONS TO
HIRE SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATORS
BUT TO ALSO BRING ON MENTAL
HEALTH STAFF SUCH AS THERAPISTS
AND EVERYTHING'S SO THERE'S SO
MANY LGBTQ ORGANIZATIONS
PROVIDE, UM, INTERNSHIPS. TO
FUTURE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS,
BUT THEY NEED PERMANENT FULL
TIME MENTAL HEALTH STAFF TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENTS AS I
WENT THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION.
ALL OF OUR REPORTS ARE ON OUR
WEBSITES WHERE YOU CAN SEE OUR
VERY FIRST REPORT FROM 2018 ALL
THE WAY THROUGH 2021 ARE 2022
REPORT WILL BE PUBLISHED THIS
AUGUST. BUT I REALLY DO WANT TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AND YOUR
, UM, THOROUGHNESS ON YOUR
PRESENTATION. UM I BELIEVE YOU.
YOU ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS
AND THEN SOME FOR US. UM BUT
MOST MOST IMPORTANTLY, OF COURSE
, MAKING SURE THAT WE GET A COPY
OF YOUR INFORMATION SO THAT WE
CAN ENSURE THAT OTHER COMMITTEE
MEMBERS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
UM AND SO AS WE BEGAN TO THINK
ABOUT POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE
SOLUTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR UH HUH.
ESPECIALLY THE QUALITATIVE DATA
THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO
US, UM, ON REAL EXPERIENCES. UM
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, BOTH RURAL AND URBAN
AREAS AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. WE
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING
HERE. WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF
OUR PANELISTS AND PLEASE KNOW
BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS
THAT OUR LAST SESSION AGAIN IS
GOING TO BE, UH, JUNE. JUNE 7TH.
UH UM, AND AT THAT HEARING. WE
WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING MORE, UM,
ISSUE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
AFFECTING THE UM ASIAN PACIFIC
ISLANDER COMMUNITY, OUR SENIORS
AS WELL AS OUR VETERANS AS WELL.
UM AND THEN WE WILL CAP IT OFF,
WITH SOLUTIONS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AS WE BEGIN TO CONTINUE TO
FIND, UM, BOTH COMMON SENSE. UM
SOLUTIONS TO THIS MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS. BUT THEN AGAIN AND THEN
ALSO SOME MOUNTAINS. WE NEED TO
MOVE. UM AND SOME SYSTEMS WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE SHIFT. AND
CONFORM TO MAKING SURE THAT
WE'RE MEETING THIS MOMENT IN
THIS CRISIS. UM SO IF THERE WE
WILL NOW GO INTO OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, UM, PERIOD. IF THERE
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON
OUR PHONE LINES? THANK YOU FOR
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU MIGHT
PRESS ONE AND THEN ZERO. AND WE
DO HAVE ONE THAT COMES FROM LINE
EIGHT. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. GOOD
AFTERNOON. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
JACKSON AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. I'M ADRIAN
SHELTON WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES. WE ARE A STATEWIDE
ASSOCIATION OF NATIONALLY
ACCREDITED NON PROFITS THAT ARE
SERVING CHILDREN, YOUTH AND
FAMILIES AND OUR SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS AND ALL OF THE 58
COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA, AND SO
WE REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO
THE URGENT ISSUES OF OUR STATE
AS IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH
CARE AND CALIFORNIA AND HOW WE
CAN IMPROVE SERVICES AND SAVE
LIVES. I JUST WANTED TO
REITERATE HERE THAT, UM, WE HAVE
A USE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.
UM AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT SUICIDE
RATES FOR CHILDREN AND VIEWS, UM
THE RATES ARE SKYROCKETING, AND
THIS IS EVEN BEFORE THE WHOLE
BRUNT OF THE OF THE PANDEMICS.
WE ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
DISPARITIES AMONG DEMOGRAPHIC
GROUPS, UM, WHICH IS FURTHER
CAUSE FOR ALARM. BUT, FOR
EXAMPLE, ARE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. I
KNOW THAT YOU FROM AGES. 10 TO
24, WHO ARE BLACK, EXPERIENCED
THE LARGEST INCREASE IN SUICIDE
RATES. AND AS WE KNOW, THIS IS
JUST ONE MEASURE OF MENTAL
HEALTH. SO THESE STRUGGLES ARE
PLAYING OUT IN CLASSROOMS THAT
ARE HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. AND
SO WE JUST WOULD WANT TO EXPLORE
WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND THE
LEADERSHIP HERE ABOUT HOW WE CAN
TAKE IT TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE
VULNERABLE YOUTH ARE SAFE TEEN
WHAT THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS
THAT ARE SERVING THEM LOOK LIKE
AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO ENSURE
THAT WE CONTINUE TO MEET USED
WHERE THEY ARE AT THE RIGHT
PLACE. AND WHAT'S THE RIGHT
INTERVENTION? SO PLEASE CONSIDER
ASKING THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE
AND OUR PROVIDERS A RESOURCE TO
ALL OF YOU. AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH AGAIN FOR THIS AMAZING
HEARING. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. WE
HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS AND
QUÊ. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. FOR THOSE WHO PROVIDED
TESTIMONY AGAIN. UM AND THIS
HEARING WAS JUST ABOUT MAKING
SURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES KNOW
THAT WE SEE YOU. WE HEAR YOU, UM
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE SPACE TO
TELL YOUR STORIES. TO TELL YOUR
EXPERIENCES AND TO BE ABLE TO
INFORM THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
AS WE, UM AS WE TRY TO MEET THIS
MOMENT, UM AND SO I WANT TO
THANK AGAIN RIGHT VICE CHAIR.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PELLERIN, UH,
FOR BEING HERE AND BEING A
FANTASTIC PARTNER AS WE GO ON
THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER. AND AGAIN
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING
THANK YOU TO MY STAFF WHO. I
NEED SOME MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
DEALING WITH ME. AH BUT WE LOVE
THEM NONETHELESS. UH SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE WILL
ADJOURN THIS HEARING.