The San Francisco Mental Health Association is preparing to lay off around 200 employees — about two-thirds of its staff — in response to a cut in state funding.

The organization runs several phone help lines, including the 24/7 California Peer-Run Warm Line , a number people can call instead of 911 when they are experiencing mental-health issues. In its 2025-2026 budget, the state allocated the association $4.2 million to keep those lines up and running, according to the organization. That’s less than a third of what it needs to operate them this year, the organization said.

Mark Salazar, the Mental Health Association’s executive director, said he was “grateful” the organization will still get at least some money from the state, given the state was cutting spending to close its defi

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