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The "Mental Health Mobile" is hitting the road to spread the word about the need for mental wellness and provide an opportunity for people across the state to learn more about how therapy can help. The statewide tour organized by CounselingCalifornia.com and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month.
The mobile will make its first stop in San Francisco on Monday, May 16. From there, the journey heads south, with stops in Sacramento, Fresno/Clovis, Los Angeles and San Diego (full schedule below).
The Mental Health Mobile is touring the state as cuts to mental health programs continue to sweep the country. In fact, California leads the nation in cuts to mental health spending, slicing more than $587 million in the last two years alone (1). At the same time, more than one in four Californians surveyed said that they have experienced hopelessness or depression, according to an April 2011 survey commissioned by CAMFT (2). The survey also found that:
"Mental wellness is important to Californians overall health – and therapy is accessible," said Jill Epstein, J.D., executive director of CAMFT. "Come out to the Mental Health Mobile to meet local Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and learn more about the benefits of therapy."
At each Mental Health Mobile stop, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists will be on hand to offer:
Californians looking to find out whether therapy is covered by their health insurance, or to find a therapist participating in their health insurance plan, should contact their provider directly. Typically this information can be found on the back of your insurance card.
Visit the Mental Health Mobile in your area:
San Francisco
When: Monday, May 16 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Westfield Metreon, 101 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA
You can find the Mental Health Mobile on the corner of 4th Street and Howard Street, next to Jillian's of San Francisco
Sacramento
When: Wednesday, May 18 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: California State Capitol
You can find the Mental Health Mobile on L Street towards 11th Street
Fresno/Clovis
When: Friday, May 20 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Sierra Vista Mall, 1050 Shaw Avenue, Clovis, CA
You can find the Mental Health Mobile at the east mall entrance in the lot across from Hungry Bear Cookies
Los Angeles/Venice Beach
When: Monday, May 23 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Windward Plaza, 1800 Oceanfront Walk Venice, CA.
You can find the Mental Health Mobile directly in front of the Venice "V" sculpture
San Diego
When: Tuesday, May 24 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Horton Plaza, 324 Horton Plaza, San Diego, CA
You can find the Mental Health Mobile on 4th Avenue and E. Street near Balboa Theatre
Read more about the Mental Health Mobile at www.mentalhealthmobile.com. Visit www.counselingcalifornia.com to learn about how therapy can help or to find a therapist near you. Follow the Mental Health Mobile on Twitter (@CounselingCA) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CAMFT).
About CAMFT
The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) is a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of the state's licensed and prelicensed Marriage and Family Therapists and the common interests of its 29,000 members. CAMFT provides CounselingCalifornia.com as a free resource for individuals looking for Marriage and Family Therapists located in California. Marriage and Family Therapists treat a comprehensive range of issues including depression, anxiety, phobias/fears, elder and child issues, relationship issues, post-traumatic stress, and severe mental illness. For more information, visit www.camft.org or www.counselingcalifornia.com.
(1) "State Mental Health Cuts: A National Crisis," National Alliance on Mental Illness (March 2011)
(2) A Zoomerang online survey among 1,055 randomly selected adult California residents was completed from March 30– April 10, 2011. The margin of error percentages reported overall is + / - 2 percentage points.
Media Contact: Eileen Schuster California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists eschuster@camft.org
SOURCE California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists