The growing need for mental health care services across Santa Clara County, and nationwide, is well-recognized, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the County has taken significant strides in recent years to address this challenge, we know that not all community members access services in the same way or with the same level of difficulty. Older adults may face additional challenges that make it difficult to access in-person services.
Supervisor Simitian advocated for older adult mental health access and asked County staff to report back to the Board with an analysis of existing services available to and specifically designed for older adults, the barriers to care and gaps in service, and how to bridge these gaps for the Board’s consideration and review. This work builds upon the Supervisor’s existing work supporting mental health access to youth and teens, and expanding overall access to mental health services in our County.
