Sen. Dodd: Napa County’s Mentis is Nonprofit of the Year

NAPA – Napa County’s Mentis has been serving the mental health needs of young people, adults and seniors for decades, providing life-saving treatment including suicide prevention and mental health therapy in Spanish and English, in times of crisis including earthquakes, wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. For Mentis’ significant contribution to the community’s mental well-being, it has been named Nonprofit of the Year for Senate District 3 by Sen. Bill Dodd.

“We have endured significant mental health challenges over the years and through them all, Mentis has been there,” Sen. Dodd said. “The assistance they provide to our underserved and vulnerable populations is invaluable. They offer the support, education and inspiration people need to take charge of their lives. At the same time, they are growing to meet increasing demand. I’m honored to recognize Mentis for its achievement.”

“I find myself so proud of all that we have accomplished together,” said Rob Weiss, Mentis executive director. “Though the events of the past few years were truly unprecedented, we found ourselves more flexible than we thought possible and more dedicated than ever to serving our community whenever and however it was needed. By adding a prevention division, Mentis has truly expanded its reach to become the safety net for people of every age needing mental health and wellness support.”

Mentis was founded in 1948 to help families readjust to civilian life following World War II. As Napa County’s mental health needs grew, Mentis responded, expanding its services to treat people of all ages and expanding bilingual clinical staff. It has been instrumental in addressing teen suicide through partnerships with schools and its recent merger with Teens Connect. It also provides low-cost treatment and counseling to help adults and seniors lead emotionally healthy, stable lives. With added stress from recent wildfires and the pandemic, Mentis responded to increased demand, serving more than 4,500 community members in 2021.

Mentis will be formally recognized June 8 on the Capitol lawn in Sacramento during a ceremony coordinated by the California Association of Nonprofits.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.