State launches $100 million campaign to destigmatize youth behavioral health

The California Department of Public Health is offering $100 million in grants to raise public awareness of youth mental, emotional and behavioral health issues, the agency announced Tuesday.

Organizations can submit proposals aimed at youth that will improve behavioral health literacy for children, youth, caregivers and their communities in California. The proposals, which are intended to appeal to diverse audiences, can by multilingual and multicultural.

The campaign is part of the state’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative.

“The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative is transforming how we support California’s youth and today we are requesting proposals from qualified agencies to help conduct these campaigns,” Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna, deputy director of the department’s office of health equity. “With these campaigns, we plan to focus on promoting well-being and preventing behavioral health challenges, including substance abuse disorders, among California’s youth.”