ACR204 - Behavioral health and arts.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 204 CHAPTER 211 Relative to behavioral health. [ Filed with Secretary of State August 27, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 204, Quirk-Silva. Behavioral health and arts. This measure would recognize and affirm the important role of artists, arts organizations, creative arts therapists, and arts for health initiatives in supporting behavioral health, promoting recovery, strengthening community resilience, and contributing to public safety. The measure would encourage and recognize exploration, support, and integration of arts and behavioral health within California’s health care, behavioral health, and community-based systems. Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill Text WHEREAS, California, like the rest of the United States, is experiencing a significant behavioral health crisis, with increasing rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use disorders affecting residents across all age groups; and WHEREAS, According to national and state data, a substantial portion of youth, adults, and older adults experience a stigmatizing behavioral health condition each year; and WHEREAS, The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms remains high, underscoring the urgent need for innovative, accessible, and community-based behavioral health interventions; and WHEREAS, Participation in the arts has been widely recognized as an effective tool for promoting well-being and brain health, as well as reducing social isolation and loneliness; and WHEREAS, Arts for health initiatives have emerged as evidence-based and clinically supported interventions that help address symptoms of stress, trauma, anxiety, and related behavioral health challenges; and WHEREAS, Research in neuroscience and brain health demonstrates that engagement in the arts can stimulate cognitive function, strengthen neural connectivity, support memory and emotional processing, and promote overall brain health across the lifespan, making arts participation a valuable preventive strategy for mental well-being and healthy aging; and WHEREAS, The California Behavioral Health Association and California for the Arts collaborate to elevate dialogue and best practices for integrating behavioral health and arts for Californians; and WHEREAS, Preventive approaches that integrate the arts may help reduce reliance on more costly crisis and clinical interventions by addressing social and emotional well-being before conditions worsen; and WHEREAS, These initiatives, when implemented as trauma-informed practices, have been shown to improve emotional regulation, reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and provide meaningful avenues for self-expression and healing; and WHEREAS, Artists and culture bearers are trusted community members that can be uniquely positioned to reach populations that are historically underserved or less likely to engage with traditional systems of care; and WHEREAS, In collaboration with health care and providers, public health agencies, and mental health practitioners, artists and culture bearers can support upstream health promotion efforts by delivering arts-based well-being programs that complement, rather than replace, clinical services; WHEREAS, Federal agencies, including the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Department of Defense, have successfully integrated creative arts therapies into treatment programs for veterans and active-duty service members; and WHEREAS, Expanding access to behavioral health resources through community-based arts programming may contribute to improved public safety outcomes by addressing untreated mental illness and co-occurring disorders reducing the risk of harmful behaviors; and WHEREAS, A mentally healthy health care workforce is essential to delivering high-quality, compassionate, and patient-centered care across California’s behavioral health system; and WHEREAS, Arts for health initiatives also benefit health care professionals by reducing burnout, strengthening emotional resilience, and fostering innovation in care delivery; and WHEREAS, Integrating arts-based approaches into behavioral health and community settings can create supportive environments that reduce stress, enhance collaboration, promote well-being and brain health, and strengthen system capacity to respond to ongoing behavioral health needs; and WHEREAS, It is appropriate to recognize the growing body of evidence demonstrating the value of arts for health initiatives in improving individual and community wellness outcomes throughout California; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes and affirms the important role of artists, arts organizations, creative arts therapists, and arts for health initiatives in supporting behavioral health, promoting recovery, strengthening community resilience, and contributing to public safety; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature encourages and recognizes exploration, support, and integration of arts and behavioral health within California’s health care, behavioral health, and community-based systems; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.