Tackling Behavioral Health Challenges to Create Thriving Communities: Insights from MAAC’s Board Retreat
On Friday, August 23, 2024, MAAC ended the first day of its board retreat with a thought-provoking panel discussion titled, “The State of Our Region: Tackling Behavioral Health Challenges to Create Thriving Communities.” This powerful conversation brought together leaders in behavioral health and community members, to explore the most significant challenges and opportunities in San Diego. The panel was facilitated by Dr. Darjené Graham-Perez, a MAAC board member, and esteemed leader and champion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) at Walden Family Services.
The discussion began with Dr. Luke Bergmann, Director of Behavioral Health Services for San Diego County, who provided an overview of the region’s behavioral health landscape. Dr. Bergmann emphasized the urgent need to shift from a crisis-driven system to one focused on prevention, citing a staggering statistic: 94% of individuals with diagnosable substance use disorders never receive adequate addiction treatment. He stressed that investing in harm reduction and prevention programs is essential to saving lives and engaging more people in recovery. Following his remarks, Dr. Bergmann was joined by Dr. Gaurav Mishra, Chief Behavioral Health Officer at San Ysidro Health, and Dr. Nellie Tran, Executive Director of the Center for Counseling & Engagement at SDSU. Together, they discussed the current state of behavioral health services, identified critical gaps in care, and proposed policy and program interventions to enhance the well-being of San Diego’s communities.
A Call to Action: Bridging Gaps in Behavioral Health Care
Throughout the panel, the speakers reinforced the need for holistic approaches to behavioral health, ones that extend beyond clinical care to include education, policy change, and community-based interventions. MAAC’s core areas of work—Economic Development, Education, Health & Well-being, Housing, and Advocacy & Leadership Development—are integral to addressing the social determinants of mental health. By fostering collaborations across sectors and focusing on comprehensive solutions, MAAC continues to champion thriving, healthy communities. Following the panel, attendees had the opportunity to engage further during a reception, where they shared their reflections on the discussion. The atmosphere was filled with conversations about the panel’s insights and the steps needed to drive real change in San Diego’s behavioral health landscape. Click here to view the full picture gallery.
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