FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - herald christian health center is applying for behavioral health services expansion (bhse) grant to improve access to mental health and substance use…

FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - herald christian health center is applying for behavioral health services expansion (bhse) grant to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder (MH-SUD) services for the populations in LOS angeles county and SAN diego county in southern california. The health center is located at a health professional shortage area (hpsa ID 706999062R) with a score of 20 for mental health services. This indicates a very high demand for mental health services in the health center's service area. The health center plans to utilize the grant fund to expand access to MH-SUD services especially for the asian and latinx populations. According to the LOS angeles county health survey conducted by department of public health in 2023, asian adults were noted to have disparities in certain mental health and emotional wellbeing outcomes such as suicide. More than 1 out of 5 US-born asian dults (21.4%) reported having serious thoughts about suicide, the highest reported rate among all racial and ethnic groups and 3.8% of US-born asian adults reported having ever attempted suicide. For the latinx adults, they had the lowest rates of reporting "always and usually receiving the social and emotional support they need" (57.1%). Immigrants face stressors unique to the experience of migration that may exacerbate or cause mental health problems but access care at rates far below the general ppopulation, leaving them at risk of untreated mental health conditions. Studies have shown that immigrants from asia, latin america, and africa use mental health services at lower rates than non-immigrants, despite an equal or greater need. With this funding, the health center will a) improve access to clinical services for MH & SUD patients; b) provide patients with education, information, resources and support services such as health ducation, enrollments assistance for food and nutrition programs (food stamp, WIC) and referrals to other communitiy based orga nizations for resources such as housing and legal assistance.