Kelsey Mellard
Jan 28, 2025
California is meeting the twin problems of mental health care with a triplicate of solutions — accessibility, affordability, and equity
The state’s innovative — and state-funded — BrightLife Kids program delivers accessible, affordable, and equitable behavioral health support to California families for free.
In last month’s KFF article written by Dr. Drew Altman, he names the twin problems of mental health care as accessibility and affordability. Many people with mental health challenges in the U.S. either can’t find the help they need, don’t know where to look, or hesitate because of the enduring stigma attached to the need.
The barriers are multifaceted. While racial disparities are prevalent, among insured adults 44% say they don’t get the support they need due to geographic limitations, trust and quality issues, and the fact that care (if it can be found) isn’t always covered by their insurance.
These challenges aren’t just hurdles for individual adults to navigate — they have an effect on kids, caregivers, and whole families, too. The problem is a complex one.
For example, many kids today feel “helpless, powerless, and hopeless” when it comes to the devastating effects of climate change. The distress is heightened during natural events like the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, where hurricane-force winds fanned uncontrollable flames, burning nearly 50,000 acres of bone-dry land, destroying thousands of structures and homes, and killing over two dozen people.
The concern among kids is so prevalent that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that counseling on climate change be incorporated into pediatric clinical practice, as well as into medical school curriculums.
At the forefront of the complexity of the pediatric mental health crisis is social media and cell phone use. The California Partners Project’s 2024 Impact Report states that an astonishing 97% of teens say they are on their phones at some point during the school day, disrupting both students and teachers. Lowering this statistic is an uphill climb. In an effort to help families, the CPP produced a series of free, bilingual resources called Tech/Life Balance to promote healthy relationships with technology, reduce conflict and emotional regulation issues, and improve the overall mental health of kids.
There are several other areas where improvements can be made, but no single policy intervention from Washington (or anywhere) will act as a cure-all.
California has made bold, innovative strides to meet the rising need for family behavioral health support. On the West Coast, the twin problem outlined by Dr. Altman is met with a triplicate of solutions: accessibility, affordability, and equity.
With Governor Gavin Newsom leading the way, California implemented the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). This $4+B five-year package of investments is reimagining behavioral health care for California’s youth. The goal is to promote social and emotional well-being, prevent behavioral health challenges, and provide equitable, appropriate, timely, and accessible services for free. This early intervention approach serves as a public health prevention strategy by identifying and addressing potential behavioral health issues before they develop into more severe mental health problems later in life. Pediatric anxiety and depression diagnoses in California’s youth have increased by 70% over the last nine years, and 40% of California kids struggle with anxiety or panic attacks.
Launched as a part of the state’s CalHOPE program, the CYBHI package includes Behavioral Health Virtual Services (BHVS) from the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). One vital part of the funded BHVS offering since January 1, 2024, is BrightLife Kids — a free, virtual, behavioral health coaching program for California kids ages 0–12 and their caregivers.
No insurance is needed, no referrals are required, and there are no eligibility hoops to jump through. If a family has a California zip code and a child up to 12 years old, they’re qualified. Caregivers can immediately access a robust digital library full of articles and resources, send a secure chat message to their child’s coach, and book a 1:1 virtual coaching session (available within days, not weeks or months).
In one year, BrightLife Kids has engaged tens of thousands of kids, parents, and caregivers, answering the call for accessible, affordable, and equitable mental health care. Reaching families of multiple racial and ethnic backgrounds, 80% of members identify as BIPOC. Of those, the highest percentage of families in live care identify as Hispanic/Latinx. BrightLife Kids offers bilingual coaches (English/Spanish) and coaching sessions can be held in 17 other languages with the use of free, live interpretation services. In just the first six months of the program, we saw:
More than half (53%) of BrightLife Kids families live in underserved communities, according to the Healthy Places Index (HPI).
Overall, 5% of California families live in rural counties, and 5.7% of BrightLife Kids families live in rural counties. This shows that the program is reaching rural California families, who may otherwise not have access to expert behavioral healthcare.
Of the kids in coaching, 73% identify as BIPOC, reflecting both the need in the demographic and BrightLife Kids’ ability to meet that need with culturally-inclusive care.
Family behavioral health, with specific support for caregivers, has never been more important. The Surgeon General’s newest public health warning isn’t about tobacco or alcohol — it’s about parenting. The advisory states that half of parents find their stress to be “completely overwhelming” while others say “they are so stressed they cannot function.” If left untreated, these behavioral and mental health challenges (for kids and parents alike) can lead to long-term issues, which drive more expensive interventions and treatment.
BrightLife Kids coaching delivers early intervention and preventive support, helping both kids and parents, and strengthening the entire family unit. With BrightLife Kids, families have a partner to help them build an emotional and behavioral framework upon which they can learn, grow, and thrive. Experienced care, all from home, all for free.
This successful collaboration in California serves as a blueprint for other states that have the desire to prioritize a comprehensive mental health solution for their communities. Mental health professionals, educators, tech developers, and policymakers nationwide can — and should — come together to highlight the crisis, activate the solution, and be the vocal advocate that families everywhere need.