Protect Mental Health Support in California: Save the California Peer Run Warm Line!

Mental health care should be accessible to everyone, yet too many Californians face overwhelming challenges without anywhere to turn. The California Peer Run Warm Line has been a lifeline for thousands by providing free, compassionate, and non-clinical emotional support to those in need. Specifically, it links Californians in need to peers who provide connection and hope through their own lived experiences of mental health challenges and recovery.

But now, this vital service is at risk of losing funding. Sign the petition to urge California lawmakers to continue and expand their funding for the Warm Line!

Since its launch in 2014, the Warm Line has helped over half a million people - including those who are underserved, marginalized, or mistrustful of the clinical system. The CA Warm Line offers support in English and Spanish, as well as 240 additional languages through translation. Callers to the CA Warm Line are supported on their own terms and empowered to make their own choices.

Whether facing anxiety, depression, loneliness, or distress, Californians have found judgment-free, peer-led support. Even better? It's available 24/7 via phone, text, or chat.

The need for this service has skyrocketed. In 2019, less than 1,000 people called the Warm Line per month. By early 2025, that number had grown to more than 20,000 monthly contacts. This staggering increase underscores how desperately people need low-barrier mental health support.

The CA Warm Line callers have been rushing to reaffirm how necessary and life-changing this service is. One caller shared, "I can't tell you how many nights I haven't been able to sleep, and the Warm Line has helped me so much. I always wonder if it's actually going to help, and it always does." According to another: "I called for the first time, and I don't know what else I would've done... I would've felt in pain all night on top of not being able to sleep.... I was able to talk to someone tonight who told me that what I was saying made sense. Just that alone was huge."

The CA Warm Line has been deeply meaningful for staff as well. As one counselor explained: "A few years ago, I realized I was struggling and hadn't cared for my mental wellness. Now I want to support others who are going through tough times, as we never know when someone might need help. That is why I chose to work as a Bilingual Warm Line Counselor."

Without adequate funding, this crucial resource cannot continue to meet demand, putting more people at risk of crisis, hospitalization, or worse. Research shows that 64% of California Warm Line callers experience a significant reduction in distress after calling. By providing early intervention and self-directed care, the CA Warm Line prevents crises before they escalate - reducing reliance on costly emergency services like 911 and ER visits.

We cannot afford to let this life-saving resource disappear.

Lawmakers must act now to ensure continued and expanded funding for the California Peer Run Warm Line. Sign the petition today to demand that California legislators protect this essential service and keep mental health support accessible for all!