Mental Health & Behavioral Health | Gheorghe Teofil Golea for Governor

Early Care, Timely Treatment & Real Accountability

Mental health care is health care. Yet across California, too many people struggle to find timely, affordable services—whether for anxiety, depression, substance use, or serious mental illness. Families face long wait times, emergency rooms are overwhelmed, and law enforcement is too often asked to respond to health crises.

My approach is straightforward: expand access, reduce wait times, strengthen crisis response, and insist on accountability—so the system works before people reach a breaking point.

Treat Mental Health as Essential Health Care

Enforce timely access standards so people can get appointments when they need them
Reduce delays in referrals, approvals, and care coordination
Integrate mental health services into primary care settings whenever possible
Improve transparency so patients understand options and costs

Goal: Care when people need it—not months later—and a system that prioritizes patients over paperwork.

Reduce Wait Times & Expand Access Statewide

Access should not depend on your zip code. Rural and underserved communities often face the longest waits and the fewest provider options.

Expand community-based clinics and outpatient services
Increase tele-mental health access for rural communities, seniors, and working families
Support evening and weekend availability to reduce missed work and missed care
Improve provider participation so more clinicians accept coverage and serve local needs

Why it matters: Delayed care becomes crisis care—and crisis care is the most expensive and traumatic care.

Strengthen Crisis Response Without Criminalizing Mental Illness

Mental health crises require health professionals, not jail cells. California must expand humane crisis response and ensure people receive follow-up care after an emergency.

Expand non-law-enforcement crisis response teams where appropriate
Improve coordination between 988, local responders, and treatment providers
Ensure follow-up services after crisis intervention to prevent repeat emergencies
Support stabilization options that keep people safe and connected to care

Goal: Safe, humane responses that stabilize people and connect them to treatment—without turning a health crisis into a criminal case.

Address Substance Use & Addiction with Treatment and Recovery

Addiction is a health issue—and treatment works when it is accessible, coordinated, and continuous.

Expand access to evidence-based substance-use treatment
Improve detox, recovery, and long-term support services
Coordinate mental health and addiction services so people don’t fall through gaps
Support families seeking help for loved ones

Support Children, Youth & Families

Early intervention changes lives. California should help young people before challenges become lifelong barriers.

Expand school-based counseling and mental health supports
Support early screening and family-based interventions
Reduce barriers to care for children and teens
Improve coordination between schools, families, and providers

Goal: Prevention and early help—so fewer young Californians end up in crisis later.

Build and Retain a Strong Behavioral Health Workforce

Without providers, access is only a promise. California needs more counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and peer support professionals—and we need to keep them here.

Expand training and licensing pathways while maintaining standards
Reduce paperwork burdens that contribute to burnout
Incentivize service in rural and high-need communities
Improve retention and support for existing providers

Early access. Real treatment. Humane response. A healthier California.