PHOTO CAPTION: Theresa Rizzo, Psy. D. and Axis’s Administrative Director of Integrated Behavioral Health, sits down with a patient to discuss mental health awareness.
By Jerome Hubbard, Lisa Hom and Jennifer Modenessi, Vitals contributors
Mental health awareness continues to be a prevalent topic worldwide, particularly here in California. In fact, according to the California Health Care Foundation, approximately 1 in 7 adults experience mental illness each year. Eye-opening, right?
Sutter Health thought so as well. That is why the not-for-profit health system is taking bold steps to prioritize mental health by investing $300,000 in the Axis Bridge Mental Health Urgent Care Program, a service provided by Pleasanton-based nonprofit Axis Community Health. The program offers free critical mental health treatment to adults and children ages 5 and older in Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton.
“We understand the critical need for mental health care access and how the current shortage of mental health care providers across the state impacts entire communities,” said Dr. Mat Hernandez, chief medical officer of Sutter’s Greater Silicon Valley. “By supporting the Axis Bridge Mental Health Urgent Care Program, we’re helping to bring mental health services to those who need them most immediately in the Tri-Valley area.”
Through the Axis Bridge program, participants receive crisis intervention, stabilization, care management, and counseling services regardless of whether they are insured or able to pay. The care team includes a licensed therapist, a care coordinator, and a psychiatrist for adult patients who help clients navigate the mental health treatment system and identify long-term treatment solutions.
These resources are essential to address the increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and other conditions exacerbated by the ongoing pressures of modern life.
“We are deeply grateful to Sutter for their longstanding partnership and their recent substantial grant in support of our Axis Bridge program,” said Liz Perez-Howe, CEO of Axis Community Health. “It’s truly inspiring to see the remarkable impact of this program, which has provided urgent mental health support to 1,062 individuals this year alone. This support is not just a boost for our efforts but a transformative force in our community, reshaping lives and offering hope and healing where it’s needed most.”
Since its launch in 2021, the program has served numerous Tri-Valley residents with increasing success. Hospitalization rates are significantly lower, with less than 1% of patients referred for hospitalization or placed in an emergency 72-hour psychiatric hold. Last year, 820 individuals participated in Axis Bridge, and there were no emergency holds.
“Over the past 3 years, we have shown how this model of care is effective,” said Dr. Jennifer Penney, Axis Community Health’s Chief Integration Officer. “We are seeing larger numbers of patients year over year than we could have initially anticipated, all with diverse backgrounds and presenting problems.”
Addressing mental health needs not only helps individuals manage their conditions, it is also vital to strengthening families, improving workplace productivity, and fostering a sense of community.
For more information about the partnership and Axis Community Health, click here and here.
