A student draws in class at San Antonio Elementary School in Lockwood on May 11, 2022. Photo by David Rodriguez for CalMatters/ CatchLight Local/ The CalifornianDespite recent policy changes, many California families seeking behavioral health treatment through Medi-Cal struggle to get the services they need in a timely manner. Given the scale of the emergency, state leaders must ensure these systems are sustainably resourced.
My children, former foster youth living with complex medical needs, are considered high priority for behavioral health care and yet still have waiting times for services measured in months and – on more than one occasion – years. I can only imagine what it is like for families with less understanding and fewer resources to navigate this system.warning that youth mental health had become a “devastating” crisis, I was already a few months into my attempt to get my 15-year-old daughter back into medical care for her ADHD and depression. Her psychiatry referral had been in place since she was 12, but it was inexplicably closed due to an apparent paperwork glitch. We were told we would have to restart the entire process.
My same daughter, now 14, was diagnosed with post-viral syndrome after COVID, and her symptoms exacerbated her existing illness, triggering the onset of depression and anxiety. Her pediatrician told me there were no more pediatric psychiatry referrals available through the practice, but if she became a danger to herself I could call 911 or visit urgent care.