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Board proclaims May 2026 Mental Health Month; 988 volume up sharply, contractors briefed on outreach
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Summary
Supervisors approved a proclamation designating May 2026 as Mental Health Month. Behavioral Health and contracted suicide‑prevention partners reported rising 988 contact volume (about 160% increase locally) and described county efforts to expand prevention, crisis services and public awareness.
San Mateo County supervisors on April 21 unanimously approved a proclamation designating May 2026 as Mental Health Month and heard a briefing from county behavioral‑health staff and contractors on prevention and crisis supports.
Sylvia Tang of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) described county programs including the lived‑experience academy, health ambassadors and partnerships with food banks and community‑based groups. Taylor Coutts, program director at Peninsula Suicide Prevention (now under the Felton Institute), said the contractor averages more than 24,000 contacts annually and that San Mateo County’s 988 volume has increased roughly 160% in the last 18 months.
Coutts said the themes in calls and chats include loneliness, difficulty navigating resources and isolation; the service’s chat/text channels draw more youth and young adults, while telephone contacts skew older. County supervisors pressed staff about ways to make emergency and prevention resources more widely known (utility bill inserts, tax‑bill mailers, in‑person tabling at community events, benches with resources at parks). The board discussed outreach strategies and a planned summit and workshops for elected officials.
Supervisor Spear emphasized the need to explore rental‑assistance and legal services to prevent evictions as upstream prevention of homelessness and distress. The board approved the proclamation and thanked contractors for the work.