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72 hours: Inside San Diego County’s mental health crisis – a series by San Diego Union Tribune

Last updated on May 15, 2023

The San Diego Union Tribune (SDUT) spent over one year with dozens of journalists working to create this report on San Diego County’s emergency response system as it relates to people in behavioral health crisis.

Here is an index of links to all of the individual parts of this series.

72 Hours: Inside San Diego County’s mental health crisis – the entire series home page


Full 3-Day Narrative

Monday: ‘I thought she was going to kill me.’

Tuesday: ‘People who have a mental illness are shunned a lot. I am one of them.’

Wednesday: ‘You might feel hopeless, but there are no hopeless cases.’


How San Diego County’s mental health crisis is being addressed in schools, courts, jails and more

San Diegans, like all Americans, are struggling with mental health. Here’s how to help. By The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board.

A project with deep personal and professional meaning. By Tarcy Conners.


In their own words: Stories from the front lines of San Diego County’s behavioral health system – essays by various first-responder stakeholders


The 72 Hours Team

Project editors: Tarcy Connors, Dana Littlefield | Lead writers: Blake Nelson, Teri Figueroa, Lyndsay Winkley | Reporters: Emily Alvarenga, Andrew Dyer, Teri Figueroa, David Hernandez, Dana Littlefield, Jeff McDonald, Tammy Murga, Blake Nelson, Alex Riggins, Paul Sisson, Deborah Sullivan Brennan, Gary Warth, Lyndsay Winkley | Photojournalists: K.C. Alfred, Nelvin C. Cepeda, Eduardo Contreras, Adriana Heldiz, Sam Hodgson, Meg McLaughlin, Denis Poroy, Ana Ramirez, Alejandro Tamayo | Photo editor: Roger Wilson | Video editor: John Kelley | Photography director: Sam Hodgson | Graphics artist: Michelle Gilchrist | Graphics director: Cristina Byvik | Personal commentary editors: Laura Castañeda, Matt Hall, Tania Navarro, Chris Reed | Copy editors: David Clary, Lora Cicalo | Online design art director: Gloria Orbegozo | Digital creative director: Michael James Rocha | Print design art director: Michael Price | Logo designer: Gregory Schmidt

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