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Santa Cruz County Crisis & Personal Support Articles



Image caption: Food banks, meant as emergency aid, are now permanent food sources as many Californians face hunger.
California Food Banks Flooded by Families Needing Help

As extra pandemic benefits end, food banks say that they're becoming long-term supermarkets for Californians facing food insecurity. Several bills to boost CalFresh are before the Legislature, but the state budget deficit may get in the way.

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Mental-health crisis response could expand in Santa Cruz County

Programs would dispatch mental health workers, not police.

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Santa Cruz County Plans to Open ‘Wellness Centers’ in Schools

Officials aim to provide mental health services ‘hub’ in every high school in the county

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Boy who was catalyst for change in Scotts Valley remembered a year after his death

A boy whose death spurred a series of changes in Scotts Valley—with educators placing a renewed focus on combating bullying—was honored Feb. 3 in a lunchtime ceremony at Scotts Valley High School. Mateo Deihl, a freshman who died by suicide …

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Financial help available for California storm victims, but it can be difficult to get

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Soon after President Joe Biden declared a major disaster for the areas of California besieged by a series of atmospheric river storms on Jan. 9—a move that allowed victims to request financial help from the Federal Emergency Management …

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New Santa Cruz drop-in center offers help to teens, young adults

‘Thrive Hive’ provides employment support, health and housing services

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Expansion of mobile mental-health services lags in Santa Cruz County

‘988’ hotline starts, legislators advance money for non-police responses

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Dial 988 to Access National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The three-digit number makes it easier for those experiencing any kind of mental health crisis to get help

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Hundreds Rally for Abortion Rights in Santa Cruz

Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of the Santa Cruz County Courthouse on Friday evening to protest the decision made hours earlier by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the nationwide right to abortion. “It’s appalling that people …

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Slow Burn: Cal Fire Has Failed to Fight PTSD, Heavy Workloads

Workers’ comp cases for PTSD are routinely denied, and many crews are fatigued from working weeks at a time with no time off

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Challenges outlined for new mental-health crisis response in Santa Cruz County

Dial ‘988’ to start in July, but non-police response remains limited.

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SV City Council Worries Opioid Settlement Will Fund Syringe Exchange

Around the bend of the San Lorenzo River from a section recently rehabilitated with long grasses, buzzing insects and wildflowers, bicycle carcasses lay strewn outside a tent. An intricate woodcarving adorned the entrance to another. A dog carried a skateboard …

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Paramedics try to reduce non-emergency hospital visits

New program aims to lower costs for Medicare patients in Santa Cruz County

Image caption: Feeling blocked? These mental health organizations can help.
Finding Piece of Mind

Feeling stressed? Confused? Or just a little blue? Help is just a phone call away for residents of Santa Cruz County.

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Harm Reduction Coalition receives $100,000 grant

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County (HRCSCC) has received a $100,000 grant, that will allow the nonprofit to expand its services. The grant comes from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors and is …

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Specialists Urge Residents To Be Proactive with End-of-Life Plan

69% of Americans say talking about their views on end-of-life care is important to them, but just over half have actually done this.

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Friends, Family Say Late Scotts Valley Teen Left His Mark

More than 200 people packed a Celebration of Life held Saturday at Roaring Camp, in Felton, for Mateo Deihl, a boy who spread positivity in life, and now, in death, has inspired people across the county to push for more-welcoming …

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Scotts Valley boy’s suicide prompts calls for SVUSD to address issues

Red was 15-year-old Scotts Valley High School freshman Mateo Deihl’s favorite color. Now, attendees at his Celebration of Life, to be held at Roaring Camp in Felton on Saturday, have been asked to adorn themselves in this hue, in his …

Image caption: How much is too much? There’s no simple answer, but here are some questions to ponder.
Six Steps to Mindful Drinking

Thinking about making a change in your relationship to drugs and alcohol? Here are some things to consider.

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The Fake Fur and Real Benefits of Stuffed-Animal Therapy

Why stuffed animals are not just for kids anymore

Featured

California will soon be getting a new hotline number as an alternative to 911 for mental health crises.
988, the New Mental Health Emergency Number, Explained
Here's the story behind that new service, and the original 911 number.
Feeling blocked? These mental health organizations can help.
Finding Piece of Mind
Find help from these websites, telephone hotlines and organizations
The California mental health crisis is tied to both homelessness and rising crime.
UPDATE: California’s Mental Health Crisis: How We Got Here
The making of Gov. Newsom's plan to help get mentally ill Californians into treatment.
Kerry Wood, CEO of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, says the organization researches areas of need to help donors direct their contributions.
What Is a Community Foundation?
By channeling funds to a number of nonprofits working on various issues in a given region, community foundations help solve big problems throughout California.
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