Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)

Fotonovela

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency's Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is pleased to introduce Salir Adelante: Como una familia aprende sobre la salud mental (Moving Forward: How a Family Learns About Mental Health). Because of their format and popularity, fotonovelas are particularly effective in engaging and educating Spanish-speakers and bilingual readers on a wide range of health issues. Fotonovela is chosen as a part of MHS' multi-year, system-wide initiative to increase awareness of, and access to, mental health services, with the intended goal of improving mental health outcomes for Latinos.

The National Alliance for Hispanic Health reports that Latinos are a high-risk group for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. It is estimated that 17.7 percent of Latinos will suffer from major depression in their lifetimes. This means that approximately 159,000 Latinos in San Diego County will experience major depression, but fewer than one in 11 will seek treatment from a mental health specialist.

BHS provides a vast array of services, including mental health assessments, individual, family and group therapy, special services for children; crisis intervention; and psychiatric emergency care. We want to make these services more accessible to the Latino population in San Diego County.

Electronic versions in Spanish and English are available for download from the following links:

If you have questions, please contact Kristina Maxwell, Administrative Analyst, at (619) 584-5071. 

Mental Health Services Act - Additional Information