What is the Mental Health Services Act?
More than two million Californians are affected by potentially disabling mental illnesses every year.
To address this, in 2004 voters passed Proposition 63, now known as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). It places a 1 percent tax on personal income above $1 million. MHSA was designed to expand and transform the mental health system, while improving the quality of life for people living with mental health challenges. Consumers and their families were partners in the process, from drafting the MHSA to campaigning for its passage.
MHSA funds effective treatment, prevention and early intervention, outreach support services, and family involvement programs to increase access and reduce inequities for unserved, underserved, and inappropriately served populations.
MHSA Core Values
This diagram shows the spectrum of MHSA services from prevention through treatment and recovery.
Community Services
& Supports
Prevention &
Early Intervention
Workforce Education
& Training
Innovation Grants &
Community Learning
Capital Facilities
& Technology
Housing Solutions for Health Office
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Stories of Success
These stories highlight some of the ways Mental Health Service Act (MHSA) funding is improving the quality of life for Alameda County residents who live with a mental illness.
Zaniyah Pumphrey
Zaniyah Pumphrey is a 20-year-old from Fresno California. She is an entertainment content creator, brand ambassador, a daughter, a sister, and a single mother. Her hobbies involve anything with nature or creativity and loves fun and expressive environments. As a [...]
Tanzania Bennett
Tanzania Bennett is a 21-year-old from East Oakland. She is a mother of 2 children. She has experienced mental health issues since 8 years old. Her first experience with depression and anxiety occurred when her family went through a divorce [...]
Damien Rozell Pope Jr.
Damien Rozell Pope Jr is a 24-year-old black man from Richmond, California who is a poet, mental health advocate, and aspiring therapist. He is a younger brother and son who has been responsible in supporting his mother with her mental [...]
Brianna Gonzales-Rodriguez
Brianna, also known as Bri, hails from Deep East Oakland, California. Currently, they are a first-year, first-generation student at UC Merced, majoring in psychology and minoring in Community Research and Service. Deeply passionate about social justice, Bri has always been [...]
Sabrina Abong
Sabrina Catherine Abong is a 27 year-old foster youth activist. She takes part in the Youth Advisory Board of Oakland. Sabrina has had several articles published including mental health, resilience, role models, and more. She is a former foster youth, [...]
