Through a partnership with a California mental health provider, Santa Clara is offering residents the ability to get connected to mental health services.

The city has partnered with Cardiff-based provider Care Solace to connect Santa Clara residents to mental health, substance use, and social services. Services are confidential, and accessible in more than 200 languages.

Janine De la Vega, the city’s director of communications, wrote in an email that the contract with Care Solace plays into the city’s focus area of providing outstanding quality of life.

Roughly 23% of adults suffered from some sort of mental illness in 2022 — the most recent data available — and about 6% suffered from serious mental illness, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“Without treatment, the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering,” De la Vega wrote. “Untreated mental health conditions can result in unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide, and poor quality of life.” 

Further, she wrote, the mental health system can be difficult to navigate. Santa Clara already offers a slew of supportive services for community members, and the partnership only bolsters those offerings. 

The suite of services Care Solace provides include individual and family therapy, intervention services, psychological assessment, psychiatric services, intensive outpatient program, social services, food assistance and shelter support, hospitalization and stabilization, residential inpatient program, medical detox and applied behavioral analysis assessment and treatment. 

Care Solace connects those in need to services and coordinates care, regardless of insurance status. Its services fall into two categories: Care Match and Care Companion.

Care Match allows an individual to confidentially search Care Solace’s proprietary database and be matched to verified community providers based on their needs and preferences from any cell phone, mobile device, or computer.

Care Companions coordinate with residents for a more hands-on standard of care.

“Care Companions are dedicated advocates that help people looking for treatment every step of the way, finding providers based on needs, making calls to confirm availability and specialties, scheduling appointments, and following up to see if appointments are attended,” De la Vega wrote. 

“If needed, they will also assist residents with locating additional providers. Care Companions will research options based on language, treatment models, preferences for cultural identity, religious background, gender of a therapist, or insurance coverage: free, low-cost, or private pay options, and more.”

Care Solace’s services are available 24-hours a day year-round.

With a network of over 660,000 licensed mental health providers, the city chose Care Solace for its reputation. Care Solace has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

The $390,000 contract is for three years, with two one-year extension options. 

Care Solace’s services are available to Santa Clara residents by phone at 888-515-7881 or online at caresolace.com/ca-santaclara. Proof of residence is not required.

Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com