A Success Story

San Bernardino County’s Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) has been proactive in responding to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. DBH expanded access to crisis services, adding three new crisis text lines. Since the pandemic began, DBH has responded to over 1,900 calls to these lines, diverting 76% of the calls from hospitalization. DBH staff have also been deployed to skilled nursing facilities to provide life-saving support and education to the health care providers of the county’s most vulnerable residents. Staff conducted over 300 visits, distributed over two million pieces of PPE, and provided mental health resources and crisis counseling to thousands of staff, residents, and families.