In a little more than a year, the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley will create a center where young people will be able to access a variety of mental health services.
The creation of the youth drop-in center is made possible by a $2 million grant from the California Department of Health Care Services. Those funds are part of $150 million in grants to 262 organizations statewide, and is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health.
Included in the new center will be City of Watsonville Parks and Community Services, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance United Way of Santa Cruz County.
“This is an incredible opportunity for organizations and individuals vested in the mental health of youth to leverage what already exists and build something with, by, and for youth that helps them be well,” said DeAndre’ James, Executive Director of the Community Health Trust.
The center will be created with input from young people. It comes at a time when there is a dire need for mental health services for young people, the Health Trust said in a press release.
According to the 2021 California Healthy Kids survey, 44% of students in Santa Cruz County reported that they felt sad and hopeless almost every day. That same year, 14% said that they had considered attempting suicide, while more than one-third of LGBTQIA+ students contemplated suicide.
Local pediatrician and project partner Garry Crummer says he has seen a significant uptick in emotional and mental health issues in youth.
“Approximately two-thirds of my daily clinic visits involve child and adolescent psychiatric issues,” Crummer said. “Our youth are feeling isolated and disconnected.”
The new center will be a mental health drop-in center for young people ages 12-25, created to address their individual needs. It will provide support for mild to moderate needs in mental health, physical health, substance use, peer support and family support. Education and employment support will also be available.
The goal of the center—and in including young people in its development—is to decrease the stigma surrounding youth mental health and encourage early access to support and care.
The model was developed by Stanford University’s Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing.
The new youth center is estimated to open in downtown Watsonville in 2025.
