Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Department of Health Services to host special mental health forum May 2

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Department of Health Services are hosting a day-long community forum on Tuesday, May 2 concerning the state of mental health in the county. The forum, to be held at the Finley Center in Santa Rosa, will include panels of county behavioral health officials and mental health service providers discussing key challenges and issues facing the community.

“Our mental health care system is chronically underfunded and, as a result, we see tragic outcomes every day, from substance use disorder to homelessness to suicide,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “This forum will convene the many dedicated mental health practitioners in our community and give our Board of Supervisors an opportunity to learn from them and hear about their greatest needs.”

In Sonoma County, 60 percent of households are impacted by a mental health condition.

Panel discussions will focus on:

• Substance use disorder treatment services and the opioid crisis
• Mental health and wellness needs
• Crisis services and suicide prevention
• Workforce challenges and solutions

The free event is open to the public both in person and online. Space is limited and registration is required to attend. The county encourages attendance from members of the mental health and substance use disorder services system of care and those who are concerned or interested in these topics. The event will also be live-streamed via Zoom for those unable to attend in person.

• What: Community Forum on Mental Health
• When: May 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Where: Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa
• Registration: Register for the in-person or online event here.

The forum is funded by Measure O, the quarter-cent sales tax measure voters approved in 2020 to fund mental health and homelessness services. For more information about the forum, go to the Department of Health Services website.

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Media Contact: 
Matt Brown, Communications Specialist 
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403