Nearly one year into the pandemic, California’s infection rate has risen to one of the worst in the world, with health care systems in major hubs such as San Diego and Los Angeles fast approaching capacity.

At the same time — and in some of the very same areas — another public health crisis is readying itself to overwhelm the Golden State. There’s a mental health epidemic occurring within this pandemic, and early evidence shows that California is at risk of losing more lives to preventable causes — overdose and suicide deaths — if this dual crisis continues unchecked.

Not long after our battle with COVID-19 began, it was predicted that because of the novel virus, the state of California could see 10,509 additional deaths of despair — and that’s under a moderate economic recovery scenario. In 2018, there were more than 18,500.

Unfortunately, looking at data from San Diego, the state seems to be on track to meet that tragic statistic. In 2019, monthly deaths linked to opioids in San Diego were around 28 per 100,000 people. When the pandemic first peaked from March 2020-June 2020, monthly deaths linked to opioids in San Diego jumped up to the 36-43 range per 100,000 people.

The good news is that together, California residents, business leaders and policymakers can make sure the state doesn’t bear witness to that tragic number. By learning from what has not worked during this pandemic and embracing a strategy similar to what COVID requires — all of us playing a role — we can prevent additional deaths of despair.

Step one is deceptively simple. It involves taking an inward look at ourselves, assessing our own feelings and actions in response to them and being unafraid to ask for help if we need it. There are websites that offer screening tools like those at Mental Health America. In addition, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Substance Abuse and Mental Help Services Administration Helpline both provide free and confidential support from licensed mental health professionals, while California’s Mental Health Services Division offers programs for children and adults throughout the state.

Step two is checking in on our friends and our families. If we lead by example, they may feel comfortable enough to talk to us about how they’re having a hard time. If they don’t, but we see them exhibiting warning signs such as mood changes or increased substance misuse, we need to let them know that it’s OK to be anything but OK, that they are not alone, and that help is out there.

Step three calls on local business leaders — especially those at companies the rest of the world watches, such as Twitter, Google and Facebook. Google has already made progress toward mental health by destigmatizing conversations with its Blue Dot program, and if they and others continue to be open and honest about mental well-being and look out for signs of struggle in their employees, we could potentially connect thousands of people to the care they need.

Business leaders can further by making sure their health benefits cover services for mental and substance use disorders. This key will unlock tremendous mental health improvements in the persistent absence of federal enforcement for existing mental health parity laws. Herein lies step four, which falls on policymakers’ shoulders.

California policymakers already have a head start compared to the rest of the nation. They recently passed SB 855, which expands coverage by requiring insurers to make medical necessity determinations consistent with generally accepted standards of behavioral health care. Now, they must continue to push for legislation that makes the treatment of mental health and physical health truly equal in their communities.

The threat of despair in California is real. However, mental health has had victories here, and so long as Californians work together, the state can be successful in preventing its next public health crisis.

Benjamin F. Miller is the chief strategy officer for Oakland-based Well Being Trust and an advisory board member of Inseparable, two of the nation’s leading mental health organizations.