Acting Chair Terra Lawson-Remer today led the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to a unanimous vote approving the creation of the County’s first EmPATH Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. This crucial facility will expand access to mental health care for the South Region, addressing critical gaps in the County’s behavioral health system while providing immediate, lifesaving support to individuals in crisis.

“This new Crisis Stabilization Unit continues our aggressive work to expand treatment for those suffering from addiction and mental health challenges across our neighborhoods,” said County Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. “We are advancing the promise of hope and healing for thousands of San Diegans who are struggling with mental health and substance use crises.”

About the EmPATH CSU at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

The Emergency Psychiatric Assessment Treatment and Healing (EmPATH) CSU will:

• Serve 4,000 people annually: Providing immediate care in a calming environment to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.

• Be co-located with the emergency department: Streamlining transitions from crisis to care, reducing strain on emergency rooms.

• Expand equitable care: Meeting the needs of the underserved South Region, including uninsured individuals and Medi-Cal recipients.

• Support SB 43 Implementation: Serving as a resource for individuals with substance use disorder and/or mental illness, including those detained under California’s reformed conservatorship law, which expands eligibility to include people with severe substance use disorders.

Lawson-Remer’s Leadership in Behavioral Health Investment

Since joining the Board of Supervisors, Chair Lawson-Remer has spearheaded historic investments in behavioral health services, including:

• Securing a 40% increase in behavioral health funding, reaching a record $1.16 billion this year.

• Expanding the County’s behavioral health workforce by 77%, adding hundreds of full-time professionals to provide essential care.

• Working to add over 4,000 new behavioral health beds under Proposition 1 infrastructure funding.

“Crisis Stabilization Units save lives and provide the resources people need to break free from cycles of crisis,” added Lawson-Remer. “This new CSU is a testament to what we can accomplish when we come together to prioritize our community’s health and well-being.”

Why It Matters

Crisis Stabilization Units play a vital role in addressing the County’s behavioral health crisis, offering:

• Immediate care: Stabilizing individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises.

• Homelessness prevention: Connecting individuals to long-term care and housing resources to keep them off the streets.

• Relief for emergency departments: Reducing hospital overcrowding by providing an alternative for behavioral health emergencies.

Today’s vote marks a critical step in the County’s broader strategy to prevent homelessness, reduce emergency room bottlenecks, and provide comprehensive support to vulnerable residents. The EmPATH CSU at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center will serve as a cornerstone of these efforts, offering a new model of care to ensure San Diegans in crisis receive the help they need.

Read more about the County’s Crisis Stabilization Units visit: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/bhs/csu.html