Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

California Code, Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 5840

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

<Section eff. Jan. 1, 2025, operative until July 1, 2026 and repealed Jan. 1, 2027. See, also, § 5840 operative July 1, 2026.>

(a) The State Department of Health Care Services, in coordination with counties, shall establish a program designed to prevent mental illnesses from becoming severe and disabling. The program shall emphasize improving timely access to services for underserved populations.

(b) The program shall include the following components:

(1) Outreach to families, employers, primary care health care providers, and others to recognize the early signs of potentially severe and disabling mental illnesses.

(2) Access and linkage to medically necessary care provided by county mental health programs for children with serious mental illness, as defined in Section 5600.3, and for adults and seniors with severe mental illness, as defined in Section 5600.3, as early in the onset of these conditions as practicable.

(3) Reduction in stigma associated with either being diagnosed with a mental illness or seeking mental health services.

(4) Reduction in discrimination against people with mental illness.

(c) The program shall include mental health services similar to those provided under other programs that are effective in preventing mental illnesses from becoming severe, and shall also include components similar to programs that have been successful in reducing the duration of untreated severe mental illnesses and assisting people in quickly regaining productive lives.

(d) The program shall emphasize strategies to reduce the following negative outcomes that may result from untreated mental illness:

(1) Suicide.

(2) Incarcerations.

(3) School failure or dropout.

(4) Unemployment.

(5) Prolonged suffering.

(6) Homelessness.

(7) Removal of children from their homes.

(e) Prevention and early intervention funds may be used to broaden the provision of community-based mental health services by adding prevention and early intervention services or activities to these services, including prevention and early intervention strategies that address mental health needs, substance misuse or substance use disorders, or needs relating to cooccurring mental health and substance use services.

(f) If amendments to the Mental Health Services Act  1 are approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, this section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2026, and as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.

1 Prop. 1, approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024 election.
Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - California Code, Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 5840 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/welfare-and-institutions-code/wic-sect-5840/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard