Gov. Newsom addresses men’s mental health, aims to reduce stigma with executive order

Gov. Newsom addresses men’s mental health, aims to reduce stigma with executive order

PLAN WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. >> CALIFORNIA IS TARGETING THE SILENT SUFFERING OF YOUNG MEN AND BOYS THROUGHOUT THE GOLDEN STATE. GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING A STATEWIDE RESPONSE TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH FOR THIS PART OF THE POPULATION AND REDUCE THE STIGMA ATTACHED TO IT. NEWSOM SAYING IN A STATEMENT THAT THIS ACTION IS ABOUT SHOWING EVERY YOUNG MAN THAT HE MATTERS AND THERE’S A PATH FOR HIM OF PURPOSE, DIGNITY, WORK AND REAL CONNECTION. >> I THINK WE HAVE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, PAID A LOT OF ATTENTION TO GIRLS AND GIRLS MENTAL HEALTH. AND WHILE THAT’S GREAT, I THINK SOMETIMES WHAT’S GOTTEN LOST IN THAT SHUFFLE IS WHAT BOYS AND YOUNG MEN ARE GOING THROUGH, AND OTHER FOLKS ALONG THE GENDER SPECTRUM. >> MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS ARE ON ALERT. AFTER A RECENT RISE IN SUICIDES AND A FEELING OF DISCONNECTION AMONG YOUNG MEN AND BOYS, BECAUSE THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO ASK FOR HELP UNTIL THEY’RE IN CRISIS. THE ORDER STRENGTHENS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, ADDRESSES CALIFORNIA’S CRISIS OF LONELINESS AND YOUNG MEN AND OFFERS PATHWAYS TO WORK, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT. WHAT MAKES THIS ORDER SOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY? >> THE EXECUTIVE ORDER RECOGNIZES THAT WE NEED A WHOLE PERSON APPROACH, NOT JUST TREATING MENTAL ILLNESS, BUT ALSO INVESTING IN BELONGING, OPPORTUNITY AND PREVENTION. >> DOCTOR PARDIS RAFI IS A CLINICAL DIRECTOR AT THE CHILDREN’S HEALTH COUNCIL, AN ORGANIZATION THAT OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH IN THE SOUTH BAY. RAFI SAYS ASPECTS LIKE RECRUITING MORE MALE ROLE MODELS AND TEACHERS AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS, AND PROMOTING BOYS AND MEN TO PARTICIPATE IN SERVICE, MAKES THIS PLAN PRIMED FOR SUCCESS. >> I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOCUS AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, NOT JUST ON, YOU KNOW, THE SERVICE DELIVERY ITSELF, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND LOOKING AT THE DATA, WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY GENDER DISPARITIES IN THE SERVICE WE’RE PROVIDING, BUT ALSO WHAT ELSE ARE WE DOING? >> GOVERNOR NEWSOM SAID IT BEST. TOO MANY YOUNG M

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a handful of new legislation in California including an executive order focused on suicide prevention and mental health. Young men and boys often suffer from mental health issues and a growing stigma keeps them from getting the help they need, experts say.

ABC7’s Dustin Dorsey has the story. https://abc7news.com/17366416/

#mentalhealth #suicideprevention #gavinnewsom #men #stigma #politics #health #abc7news