Support the mission of Mentis

I recently had the good fortune to attend a small gathering of residents, elected officials and nonprofit professionals brought together to learn about the many things Mentis Napa is doing in the Upper Valley to address the mental health needs of our residents.

Formerly known as Family Service of Napa Valley, Mentis provides bi-lingual, professional mental health services to people of every age, stage and income level. Each year, Mentis delivers comprehensive mental health services to an estimated 125 individuals and families in St. Helena and Calistoga, helping improve lives and providing hope for a better future for those suffering from mental health challenges.

Under the direction of the UpValley Family Center in St. Helena, Mentis fills a full day each week serving children, adults and families, and the need continues to grow. In Calistoga, Mentis partners with the Family Center and the local school district to support dozens of children each week who are living with anxiety or a range of other emotional problems.

As experts often refer to today's children as the most stressed out generation in history, the need for mental health services for our children is exploding. In St. Helena, our schools contract with the Family Center and local therapists to provide therapeutic support for more than 50 students per week, and there is always a waiting list.

For more than 60 years, the Mentis organization has been equipping residents with the tools they need to live emotionally healthy, stable lives. Every day, their staff of dedicated clinicians works throughout the county to counsel, support and coach those who need help overcoming the hurdles life throws at us.

Last year, Mentis served almost 800 people in Napa County and for the past 10 years has been the primary provider of mental health treatment services in the Upper Valley. Unfortunately, as it often uncomfortable for people to talk about mental health, many people remain unaware of their work and the impact they have in our communities.

And their services really do make a difference, with 80 percent of their clients showing improvement in their emotional state and daily functioning as a result of receiving help.

The need for mental health treatment continues to rise in St. Helena and Calistoga, and Mentis is ready to respond, offering help to those struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma that make it hard for them to live happy lives. Most everyone needs support at times, and without Mentis, too many people in our Valley would needlessly suffer in silence.

Please join me in thanking Mentis for helping make St. Helena and Calistoga the strong, healthy communities they are. For more information about Mentis and their services, visit mentisnapa.org or call them at 255-0966.

Sara Cakebread, project coordinator

Funding the Next Generation Napa