California bill would create pilot program for mental health services to young gun violence survivors

A California bill would establish a pilot program offering mental health services to people under 25 who have been shot, lost a family member to gun violence, or witnessed a shooting. The Thrive Act would use state grants to fund counseling programs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Solano and Alameda counties.

Sponsors say the measure addresses a gap in care, noting that three in five children nationally do not receive mental health services after a firearm injury.

Background on affected individuals One participant described being shot in the leg while walking in Oakland two years ago at age 23. The bullet remains lodged in the leg, and the individual reported ongoing nightmares and difficulty discussing the incident before receiving counseling from an Oakland nonprofit.

That nonprofit is among the groups sponsoring the bill. Its policy director said many young people must navigate complex paperwork and systems to obtain services.

Legislative status and funding The bill passed the assembly floor and is under review by the Senate health and judiciary committee. An assemblymember whose district includes parts of south Los Angeles said securing funding for the pilot program is the main remaining challenge.

An associate professor at the University of California, Davis, stated that psychological trauma recovery services for youth are often fragmented, with no clear pathway from hospital treatment to ongoing mental healthcare. The same assemblymember noted that firearm violence remains the leading cause of death among children and adolescents nationally, even as firearm homicides have declined in major cities over the past five years.