“California remains focused”: Newsom marks firestorm anniversary with renewed call for mental health support
Los Angeles, California – California officials claim that recovery continues to be strong a year after devastating firestorms tore through Los Angeles County. They are focusing on mental health and long-term community stability. Leaders in the state marked the occasion by saying that rebuilding must include more than just fixing physical damage; it must also include helping survivors deal with their mental pain.
The state has been helping people who were affected by the disaster in a big, coordinated way since the beginning. Governor Gavin Newsom said again that helping individuals heal mentally is the most important part of bringing lives and neighborhoods back to life.
“California remains focused on restoring the livelihoods of LA firestorm survivors. This includes caring for people’s mental health, strengthening resilience, and making sure hope is part of the recovery. That’s why the state has invested in counseling and support – because we know the significance of mental health in rebuilding strong communities,” Gov. Newsom said.
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Health experts said that even while things have gotten better, the anniversary may still be hard for many families who are still dealing with loss and change. The California Health and Human Services Agency underlined that survivors are not alone and urged people to get help if they need it.
BrightLife Kids and Soluna offer help to young people and their families. The 988 Suicide and distress Lifeline is always open to anyone in distress who needs to talk to a certified counselor.
California has put a lot of behavioral health resources to work in Los Angeles County during the past year. Two Resiliency Centers were developed as focal places for survivors to get counseling and connect with behavioral health providers. These facilities will be operational until mid-June 2026. They are run by a cooperation between state and county authorities.
The state’s Crisis Counseling Program has also been very helpful, providing more than 185,000 individual counseling sessions to people who survived the wildfires since May 2025. These services will keep going until early 2026.
CalHOPE warm lines have helped even more people by connecting thousands of citizens to emotional assistance, especially those who said they were stressed out because of the wildfires.
Recovery efforts have mostly been focused on kids, teens, and families. More than 106,000 young individuals and families in Los Angeles County have gotten help as of late 2025 thanks to more in-person and online resources. More and more older people and their caregivers have also asked for support. Calls to the Friendship Line have been gradually rising all year.
State efforts have made sure that care continues by reopening or moving dozens of substance use treatment centers and by allowing temporary regulatory changes during wildfires. Officials claim that these measures are meant to help people recover emotionally for good and make communities stronger as Los Angeles continues to heal.
