When California voters passed Proposition 63 — the Mental Health Services Act — in 2004, the state and counties were mandated to develop an approach to providing prevention and early intervention services and education for Californians. In turn, the California Mental Health Services Authority — a coalition of California counties designed to provide economic and administrative support to mental health service delivery — began a program to reduce adverse outcomes for Californians who experience mental illness through three strategic initiatives by developing statewide capacities and implementing interventions to (1) reduce stigma and discrimination toward those with mental illness, (2) prevent suicide, and (3) improve student mental health.
Bradley D. Stein,Michelle W. Woodbridge,Lisa Sontag-Padilla,et al. Evaluating the California Mental Health Services Authority's Student Mental Health Initiative: Year 1 Findings. 2014-01-01.