Mental Health Wellness In Temecula Gets $1.5M Investment From City

TEMECULA, CA — The city of Temecula is investing $1.5 million this year in the mental health wellness of its most at-risk citizens and workers, and this week Temecula Valley Hospital publicly acknowledged the effort.

The work began late last year when the Temecula City Council agreed to grant $1 million of its $14 million American Rescue Plan Act allocation to the hospital for community behavioral health services.

The city also allocated $250,000 each to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department for the purpose of augmenting mental health services for first responders who serve Temecula.

In a released statement Wednesday, Temecula Valley Hospital CEO Darlene Wetton explained why and how the $1 million grant will be used.

“There is a significant shortage of available services to support the behavioral health needs of the community’s at-risk populations," she said. "Sadly, the Riverside University Health System-Public Health reports a suicide rate of 11.8 per 100,000 in Riverside County, which can be compared to a 10.5 suicide rate per 100,000 in California between 2018 and 2020. The funds provided shall be used to build awareness through community education, and most importantly, introduce behavioral health programs that will be critical in servicing first responders, active-duty military, and our honored veterans."

According to Temecula City Manager Aaron Adams, the grant will assist the hospital in providing behavioral health services to "at-risk veterans, active-duty military, first responders, youth and homeless individuals in need of behavioral or mental health services" who reside or work in Temecula.

The effort will further "the health, safety and general welfare of the community,” Adams said Wednesday in a released statement.

In an email to Patch, the city manager further explained that, through the program, Temecula residents/workers would be eligible for coverage of up to $5,000 to $25,000 (per patient) for emergency department behavioral care stabilization that may not be covered by insurance, as well as costs to facilitate inpatient behavioral health services.

The city grant will also help fund behavioral/mental health educational intervention programs, according to the city manager.

The Temecula Valley Hospital program is being led by the hospital's Kelly Felton, a licensed clinical social worker. She is trained in crisis management and stabilization, conflict resolution, investigations, program development, and has facilitated prevention and intervention community groups and worked in community outreach programs, according to the hospital.

John Crater, who serves as Temecula Division Chief for Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, told Temecula City Council during its Nov. 15 meeting that mental well-being is paramount for crews and the funding support is needed.

"We have to get ahead of this," Crater said. "Our folks are taking their own lives and that is not necessary."

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department has shared similar concerns.

A 2021 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. Furthermore, EMS providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than the public.

"First responders may be at elevated risk for suicide because of the environments in which they work, their culture, and stress, both occupational and personal. This stress can be acute (associated with a specific incident) or chronic (an accumulation of day-to-day stress)," according to the report.

Crater said first responders see some of the worst scenarios when responding to calls, and the funding from the city will help cover additional peer support programs, classes, therapy, comfort dogs and other treatment that can save lives.

The remainder of Temecula's $14 million in ARPA funding is being used for business support, nonprofit support, homeless services, housing assistance and higher education/workforce development, according to city documents.