BRING MENTAL HEALTH INTO THE LIGHT... Even if just a traffic light
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at info@beingwellca.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Because mental health shouldn't be hidden. Every plate puts the conversation on California's roads while helping create an ongoing source of funding for youth mental health.
Sometimes a simple visual sign can do something more. It can give someone permission to talk about what they're going through—or quietly remind them that they're not alone.
Yes—this is an official California license plate initiative. The California Department of Education is sponsoring the Mental Health Awareness License Plate, and the plate is currently moving through the state's approval process.
Not yet—but we're getting close. California's Mental Health Awareness License Plate is still completing the state approval process. You can sign up now, and we'll let you know as soon as it's time to place your order. There is no payment or commitment required to sign up today.
California requires a minimum of 7,500 paid orders before a new specialized license plate can be produced. But 7,500 is just the beginning.
The more plates on California roads, the more people see the message—and the more ongoing funding the plate can generate for youth mental health.
Donations today help get the plate on the road by supporting the campaign, outreach, and work necessary to launch California’s Mental Health Awareness License Plate.
Once the plate is established, the plate keeps giving. Revenue generated by the plate will create ongoing funding for student mental health in California public schools—supporting school-based mental health and student services, prevention and crisis response, training for educators and school staff, and statewide resources.
California law provides that specialized-plate revenue, after DMV costs, is allocated to the sponsoring agency and used for programs furthering that agency’s mission.
Your donation helps launch it. Your plate helps sustain it.
The plate was designed by a California high school student.
The winning design was created by Anushree B. of Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, working with her teacher, Jeff Silverman, as part of a statewide student design opportunity.
Her design brings together the mental health awareness ribbon, the shape of California, and California's iconic palm trees—turning a license plate into a visible message about mental health.
A plate supporting California students began with the creativity of a California student and a teacher who encouraged her.
Yes. The Mental Health Awareness Plate will be available as either a personalized plate or with a DMV-assigned sequential number.
Because the mental health ribbon is incorporated into the plate design, personalized plates are limited to six letters and/or numbers.
So you can make the plate personal—or simply let the message speak for itself.
Based on current California DMV special-interest plate fees, a sequential plate is $50 initially and $40 per year to renew. A personalized plate is $103 initially and $83 per year to renew.
These are the current DMV fees for comparable California special-interest plates and are subject to the final fee structure for the Mental Health Awareness Plate.
And remember: signing up now is free. You won't be asked to pay until it's time to place your actual order.
You’re letting us know you’re interested — you’re not ordering or paying for a plate yet.
We’ll ask for your name, email address, and phone number so we can keep you updated as the plate moves through the approval process.
When it’s time to place actual orders, we’ll contact you with instructions and collect the additional information needed to complete your application.
Signing up takes less than a minute, costs nothing, and does not commit you to buying a plate.
Absolutely. You don’t need a plate on your car to help drive change.
Your donation helps move the campaign forward—supporting the outreach and work needed to get California’s Mental Health Awareness License Plate across the finish line and onto the road.
Once there, every plate becomes a moving message for mental health and helps generate ongoing funding for student mental health across California.
We hope so.
One of our fundraising goals is to help put more Mental Health Awareness Plates on California roads. As funding allows, we hope to create opportunities for donors to help cover the cost of a plate for someone else who wants to be part of the movement.
The more plates we can put on the road, the farther the message travels.
Help someone else drive change.
The Mental Health Awareness License Plate initiative is led by BeingwellCA, working with the California Department of Education and supporters across the state.
For BeingwellCA co-founders Graham and Carrie Wiseman, this work is deeply personal. Their 15-year-old son, Colin, died by suicide in 2013. His loss changed the direction of their lives and became a driving force behind their commitment to improving mental health awareness and support for young people.
Since then, joined by Gail Miller, BeingwellCA has worked with students, schools, educators, community organizations, and state leaders to help bring mental health out of the shadows and into everyday conversation.
The license plate grew from that same belief: sometimes simply making mental health visible can open a door to conversation, connection, and help.
For Colin — and for every young person who needs to know they are not alone.
i want TO HELP
Help us bring California's Mental Health Awareness Plate to the road. Your donation supports the campaign to launch the plate and helps build a lasting source of funding for youth mental health across California.
Or donate from your phone - Text 4RKIDS to 44321
Who is behind the Mental Health Awareness Plate?
The Mental Health Awareness License Plate initiative is led by BeingwellCA, working with the California Department of Education and supporters across the state.
For BeingwellCA co-founders Graham and Caroline Wiseman, this work is deeply personal. Their 15-year-old son, Colin, died by suicide in 2013. His loss changed the direction of their lives and became a part of the reason behind their commitment to improving mental health awareness and support for young people.
Since then, together with BeingwellCA President Gail Miller, they have worked with students, schools, educators, community organizations, and state leaders to help bring mental health out of the shadows and into everyday conversation.
The license plate grew from that same belief: sometimes simply making mental health visible can open a door to conversation, connection, and help.
For Colin — and for every young person who needs to know they are not alone.
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