What is the county mental health system?

Who do I call to get county mental health services?

What kinds of services do county mental health departments provide?

Who do I call If I have trouble getting the services I need or want?

How can I find out about Medi-Cal?

How can I find out about Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Income?

How can I find out about Medicare?

How can I find services in languages other than English?

How do I find services for children and adolescents?

What services are available for older adults?

Dual diagnosis: What happens when alcohol and drugs compound mental illness?

Assisting people with mental illness who live on the street

How do I find peer support/self-help services?

How do I find self-help and support services for caregivers and family members?

How do clients get information about supportive housing?

How do clients get information about job training that will lead to paid or volunteer work?

What if clients want to return to school?

Understanding mental illness, treatment and wellness/recovery
This section provides information about diagnosis and treatment, and how to use mental health services.

Understanding the symptoms of mental illness

Understanding severe mental health symptoms

How to talk with your mental health clinician

Learning about diagnosis

Learning about medications

Dual diagnosis: When alcohol and drugs compound mental illness

Understanding wellness and recovery

What is the county mental health system?

A county mental health system is made up of organizations that are funded through the government. County clinics are a part of this system. Community-based agencies often have contracts to provide services. These organizations include self-help groups, family service agencies, residential treatment homes, and different kinds of clinicians, including psychiatrists and psychologists. The California State Department of Mental Health is the state agency that oversees county mental health departments. Find answers to common questions asked about county mental health services here.

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Who do I call to get county mental health services?

Thoughts about wellness and recovery from clients, family members and providers. Believe that every person can grow and change Build on a person's strengths, not their disabilities Encourage risk-taking, its necessary for growth Collaborate with clients when providing and planning their services Bring services and supports to the places where clients live, work and socialize

Call your county's 24-Hour Multilingual Crisis Intervention and Assessment number. Staff will ask you to describe symptoms and may invite you to make an appointment for an assessment. Although your county will help anyone in a crisis, ongoing services are only for those with severe mental health symptoms.

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What kinds of services do county mental health departments provide?

A wide variety of services are available, including counseling, psychiatric services, care management and medication. Many counties can help you find opportunities for paid or volunteer employment, housing, education, and peer support. The mental health client and the mental health provider work in partnership to decide the appropriate services for the client.

County staff will let you know about providers who speak your language and come from your culture. They will give you information about services for children/adolescents and their families, adults, older adults, and others. For the specific services available through your county mental health department, call your county's 24 Hour Multilingual Crisis Intervention and Assessment number.

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Who do I call if I have trouble getting the services I need or want?

The California Department of Mental Health has a special office called the Ombudsman. Staff will answer your questions about getting services under your county's Medi-Cal managed care plan. The office is staffed by clients who have received services in the mental health system. If they can't answer your question, they will find the organization or person who can.

Other questions about getting appropriate services can be answered by the patients' rights advocate in your community.

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How can I find out about Medi-Cal?

• Find the telephone number and address for the Social Service office in your community on this Web page. You can use this contact list to verify when your Medi-Cal has been approved.
  
• The California Department of Mental Health Ombudsman can help you get onto Medi-Cal. (Note that Medi-Cal information for a client can only be given to that client because of confidentiality.)
  
• The Medi-Cal Policy Institute's "Guide to Medi-Cal Programs" is a quick, easy-to-use reference to help individuals understand the basic Medi-Cal eligibility categories and the distinctions among coverage groups. This is not an eligibility manual -- it does not describe the eligibility determination process or the rules that govern the process. The Medi-Cal Policy Institute conducts and commissions research, distributes program information and identifies the challenges ahead in improving the Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs.
  
• The state of California's Medi-Cal Web site has information about all aspects of this public health insurance program, including benefits and regulations. It also provides access to provider bulletins, manuals regulations and enrollment forms. A variety of transactions can also be performed through this site, including Recipient Eligibility determinations, CMC uploads, and Checkwrite.
  

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How can I find out about Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Income?

Find out about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) from the Federal Consumer Information Center Web site. Enter SSI or SSDI into the Site Search box and press Go to download brochures and articles on benefits. The Federal Consumer Information Center is part of the U.S. General Services Administration.

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How Can I find Out about Medicare?

Under certain circumstances, young people and adults who have a disability can get Medicare. This site, the official U.S. government Web site for people who have Medicare, can give you accurate information about eligibility, benefits, services and support. Your community's Center for Independent Living may have peer counselors who can help you understand how you might qualify for benefits under this program.

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How can I find services in languages other than English?

Call your County Ethnic Services Manager to find culturally sensitive providers who speak your language. Here are a few mental health resources for Spanish-speaking clients.

• The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - California sponsors support groups and training for clients and family members. NAMI chapters generally view mental illness as a "brain disorder."
• The Texas Department of Mental Health offers Spanish-language education materials for clients and their families and fact sheets about medications, diagnoses, and recognizing severe and moderate mental health symptoms.
• The Mental Health Association in California (MHAC) provides an order form for a Spanish-language brochure about mental health and wellness. The MHAC sponsors support groups for clients and family members and provides information and referrals. MHAC chapters represent diverse viewpoints on mental health issues.

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How do I find services for children and adolescents?

• Call your county 24-Hour Multilingual Crisis Intervention and Assessment number to find out about services for children and adolescents. Staff will tell you if your county has a separate children's access and crisis team. Many county mental health departments have Children's System of Care (CSOC) programs. A list of CSOC coordinators is available on this site. Most CSOCs have "parent partners" who can help you understand the mental health system. Ask your CSOC coordinator for that phone number. The California Department of Mental Health is the state agency that oversees county mental health departments.
  
• The California Institute for Mental Health (CIMH) makes user-friendly reports available on the children's services your county mental health department offers. Reports are from the Cathie Wright Technical Assistance Center, which supports CSOCs. The CIMH is a research, policy development and training organization affiliated with the California Mental Health Directors Association.
  
• The California Mental Health Directors Association (CMHDA) makes available the state mental health department's report "Transition-Age Youth Report - March 2001," which contains descriptions of mental health and other programs that serve adolescents and young adults aged 14 through 24. The CMHDA is an advocacy association for the county mental health directors.
  
• "Medi-Cal: An Open Door to Mental Health Care for Kids?" originally published by the Action Alliance for Children (AAC), is a short article with basic information about obtaining mental health services through Medi-Cal and county mental health. The article also includes telephone numbers of organizations that can help you navigate your county mental health system.The AAC educates a statewide constituency of people who work with and on behalf of children by providing reliable information on current issues, trends and public policies that affect children and families.
  
• Advocacy Resources for Children with Disabilities, on the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law's Web site, offers links to 20 articles addressing issues surrounding health and mental health care for children. The Bazelon Center is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the civil rights and human dignity of people who have mental disabilities.
  
• Children and Adolescent Mental Health, on the U.S. Mental Health Information Center's Web site, comprises eight reports that talk about how to support adolescent mental health. The MHIC is an information clearinghouse that is part of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Information located on this site is written for a wide range of clients and family members.
  
• The California Youth Connection is an advocacy organization managed by foster youth. Twenty-two chapters across the state recruit and train foster youth to be local leaders.
  

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How do caregivers find someone to talk with about the challenges of helping a child or adolescent with mental illness?

• The Center for Mental Health Services awards grants to family-run statewide networks to provide support and information to families of children and adolescents who have serious emotional, behavioral or mental disorders. For information about the California affiliate, contact Lois Jones, executive director, Parents Helping Parents - San Francisco Inc., telephone (415) 841-8820.
• Find self-help and support from other parents through the United Advocates for Children of California (UACC), a self-help support and advocacy group for caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional problems. The UACC's quarterly newsletter has notices about conferences and training that parents can attend. This organization also provides training for the parent partners of your county mental health department's CSOC.
  
• Call your local National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and Mental Health Association chapters to locate services and self-help groups in your community.

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What services are available for older adults?

• Call your county 24-Hour Multilingual Crisis Intervention and Assessment number to find out about services for older adults. Staff will tell you if your county has specialized services or providers.
• County mental health departments are in the beginning stages of designing systems of care for older adults. "Older Adult System of Care Framework" describes services and supports needed by older adults who enter county mental health systems. The California Mental Health Directors Association is an advocacy association for the county mental health directors.
• Forum on Self- Advocacy Among Older Adults, on the U.S. Mental Health Information Center's (MHIC) Web site, includes program design principles that nurture the mental health of older adults. The MHIC is an information clearinghouse that is part of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Information located on this site is written for a wide range of clients and family members.
• Find out about Medicare eligibility, benefits, services and supports on the official U.S. government Web site for people who have Medicare.
  

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Dual diagnosis: What happens when alcohol and drugs compound mental illness?

• Find treatment in your community. The SAMHSA, in collaboration with the state of California, has a service locator that will identify programs in your community for alcohol and substance abuse. The site will tell you if these programs have a dual recovery emphasis, what languages are spoken and what forms of payment are accepted.
• Through this link, you can find sources for information on being in recovery from mental illness and alcohol/substance abuse, like the Dual Diagnosis Recovery Network.
• Find peer support groups for individuals facing recovery from psychiatric symptoms and alcohol/substances. Dual Recovery Anonymous is a 12-step program for individuals facing recovery from psychiatric symptoms and alcohol/substances.
  Northern California meetings
  Southern California meetings
  

Assisting people with mental illness who live on the street

As explored inthe public television documentary and Web site Hope on the Street, families and relatives of people with mental illness can be confronted with a range of difficult situations as they struggle to support their loved ones. Get connected with these resources -- the services and information range from what to do when your loved one is involuntarily detained to what do after finding out your loved one is living on the streets.

A client has traveled out of state and needs help.

Use the U.S. Mental Health Information Center's Service Locator to select any state and find contact information for state agencies and community mental health organizations and self-help groups.

• Call the facility where the client is being held. Talk to the person in charge of their care, either on the phone or, preferably, in person.
• Contact your county Patients' Rights advocate to find out about the rights of the client and how patient confidentiality rules will affect your ability to help this person.
• Find out if the client will receive phone calls. Being 5150'd can be a disturbing experience, so talk to the client and ask how you can make the transition after discharge easier.

Find out if your community has a homeless coalition and attend meetings. Find out what services and supports exist in your community for homeless clients.

Know Your Rights
People with mental illness have the same inalienable rights that all citizens have. Here are some resources for guidance for you or your loved one in maintaining control over the treatment and recovery.

• Read the Patient Rights Advocacy Manual produced by the California Association of Mental Health Patient's Rights Advocates. It covers 20 topics, ranging from advocacy skills to seclusion and use of restraints to patient's rights and confidentiality to treatment of minors.
• If you have a complaint with services in the public or private sector, contact a Patient's Rights advocate through the California Office of Patient Rights, which contracts with the California Department of Mental Health to ensure adherence to mental health laws and the rights of patients. The office has direct advocacy services on-site at four state hospitals, and responds to patients' complaints.

Some clients prepare a legal document, called a psychiatric advance directive, to express their wishes in the event of a future crisis or possible involuntary commitment. The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law offers a set of templates for preparing a psychiatric advance directive.

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How do I find peer support/self-help services?

Sharing stories gives clients concrete examples of how to reclaim their lives despite the challenges of having a mental illness. Many counties have client-run drop in centers that provide opportunities for self-help and peer support from people who have been through the mental health system. Many of these client-run organizations have Web sites. A few California self-help organizations are listed here.

• The California Network of Mental Health Clients is the country's first client-run state mental health organization. Search its statewide directory of client-run groups to find a self-help organization in your community. Read legislative action alerts, policy papers and a calendar of upcoming events.
• The California Association of Mental Health Patients' Rights Advocates provides access to general legal resources and a patient advocacy manual. Find patient advocates in your community.
• The Mental Health Client Action Network is a mutual support and networking organization based in Santa Cruz.
• Contra Costa-based Mental Health Consumer Concerns is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1976 by and for mental health clients. Its mission is to advocate for the rights of mental health clients everywhere.
• The United Advocates for Children of California is a nonprofit organization that offers help for parents of children with severe emotional disturbances. Services include advocacy, training, self-help, information and referrals.

National Self-Help/Peer Support Training and Technical Assistance Organizations

• The U.S. Mental Health Information Center is a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) information clearinghouse. It has links to consumer self-help organizations that provide national technical assistance, training and information. Information on this site is written for a wide range of clients and family members.
• The National Empowerment Center provides support throughout the recovery process for people who have been diagnosed with mental illness.
• The National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse is a consumer-run national technical assistance center committed to helping mental health consumers improve their lives through self-help and advocacy. The center helps consumers plan, provide and evaluate mental health and community support services.

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How do I find self-help and support services for caregivers and family members?

• Contact the Mental Health Association in California (MHAC) chapter in your community. The MHAC sponsors support groups for family members and provides information and referrals. MHAC chapters represent diverse viewpoints on mental health issues.
• Contact the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) chapter in your community. NAMI - California sponsors support groups and training for family members. NAMI chapters generally view mental illness as a "brain disorder."
• Find NAMI-sponsored "Family-to-Family" classes in your community. These classes are taught by family members and share ways to take care of yourself while supporting family members experiencing psychiatric symptoms. "Family to Family" classes are a program of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, an organization that sponsors support groups and trainings for clients and family members. NAMI chapters view mental illness as a "brain disorder."

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How do clients get information about supportive housing?

Find out about housing programs in your community that provide support or services for people who have disabilities. There is usually a waiting list for any kind of supportive or low-income housing, so it's important to find out as soon as you can what's available.

• Find a list of PATH (Projects Assistance in Transition From Homelessness) providers in your county. This national program funds housing for the homeless that includes community-based outreach, mental health, substance abuse, case management and other support services, as well as some housing services. PATH creates collaborations between state and local agencies to provide community-based services for people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses.
• Find federally funded housing assistance for the homeless mentally ill. Use this Web site to find names of programs and call your county 24-Hour Multilingual Crisis Intervention and Assessment number to find out if they are available. This is another service of the U.S. Mental Health Information Center's Web site. The center is an information clearinghouse that is part of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
• California Department of Mental Health is the state agency that oversees county mental health departments. Find here FAQs on how to ask about supportive housing.
• Find your community's Independent Living Center. Although independent living centers primarily serve individuals with physical disabilities, they have peer counselors who can answer questions about employment and housing and offer services useful to individuals with mental health issues. The California Independent Living Council oversees Independent Living Centers, commissions research and develops public policy on behalf of people who have disabilities.

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How do clients get information about job training that will lead to paid or volunteer work?

Finding ways to remain in the community via volunteer or paid work is one pathway towards recovery.

• Ask if your county mental health department has a "cooperative contract" with the California Department of Rehabilitation. You can work part time or full time and receive employment training, placement and job coaching through this program. Ask if your county has this program when you call its 24-Hour Multilingual Crisis Intervention and Assessment number.
• The U.S. Center for Mental Health Services, part of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), offers links about employment.

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What if clients want to return to school?

The onset of psychiatric symptoms causes many teenagers and young adults to drop out of school. Once symptoms are understood and managed, clients often consider going back to school and finishing their high school diploma or college degree. Counties that contract with the Department of Rehabilitation/Department of Mental Health's Cooperative Program have access to consultants who can set up supportive services between mental health programs and local schools. These programs provide on-site and off-site counseling and support that help clients succeed when they return to the classroom. Call your county's 24-Hour Multilingual Crisis Intervention and Assessment number and find out if "supportive" education services are offered to clients who want to go back to school.

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Understanding Mental Illness, Treatment and Wellness/Recovery
This section provides information about diagnosis and treatment, and how to use mental health services.

Understanding the symptoms of mental illness

People have a hard time seeing the difference between a rough patch and the start of mental health symptoms. When do problems become too difficult for you to handle alone?

Finding help for yourself
Part of the Mental Health Association in California's web series Reaching for the Light, this Web page "How Do You Know When You Need Help?" lists signs and symptoms to look for that signal the need for help.

When mental illness is in your family
This factsheet from the National Mental Health Association "Mental Illness in the Family -- Recognizing the Warning Signs and How to Cope" explains what mental illness may "look like" in adults and youth and offers suggestions for family members on how to recognize and cope with mental illness in the family.

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Understanding severe mental health symptoms

In the Mental Health Association in California's (MHAC) Web series Reaching for the Light, the page "Severe Mental Disorders" provides descriptions of some severe mental illnesses: schizophrenia; mood disorders; anxiety disorders; obsessive/compulsive disorders; eating disorders; personality disorders.

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How to talk with your mental health clinician

Finding a clinician
The MHAC booklet, "Finding Help," suggests questions that will help you decide if a mental health provider is the right one for you. The Mental Health Association in California (MHAC) sponsors support groups for clients and family members and provides information and referrals. MHAC chapters represent diverse viewpoints on mental health issues.

Building a relationship with your clinician
The Mental Health Matters article "Looking for a Therapist" includes suggestions about how to talk with your mental health clinician. The Mental Health Matters web site was founded by a client to bring technical information and resources to clients, students and professionals.

Collaborating with psychiatrists to find the right medication
The National Empowerment Center is a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Technical Assistance Center. Its mission is to carry a message of recovery, empowerment, hope and healing to people who have been diagnosed with mental illness. The article, "Reclaiming Your Power During Medication Appointments With Your Psychiatrist," written by Pat Deegan, Ph.D., talks about how to structure your medication evaluation and follow-up appointments in order to cultivate collaboration between you and your psychiatrist.

Tell me about licensed mental health professionals in California
This one page document describes services provided by different kinds of mental health professionals. The Mental Health Association in California (MHAC) sponsors support groups for clients and family members and provides information and referrals. MHAC chapters represent diverse viewpoints on mental health issues.

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Learning about diagnosis

Diagnosis is a tool used by clinicians to summarize symptoms and life stressors. The following sites might help you understand how the many mental illnesses are defined.

• The Mental Health Association in California (MHAC) Web site offers information about diagnoses written by mental health professionals. MHAC sponsors support groups for clients and family members and provides information and referrals.
  
• The Mental Health Matters Web site was founded by a client to bring technical information and resources to clients, students and professionals. This Web page link to "Demystifying the Diagnosis" is a one page description of the language used by clinicians to describe mental illness -- the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition). This is just one of many technical briefs offered by this Web site on a wide range of mental health issues, ranging from treatment to self-help to advocacy to research.
  
• Diagnosis and treatment links from a client-managed Web site. The California Association of Mental Health Patient's Rights Advocates promotes public policy to further the rights and well-being of mental health consumers.
  
• The Mental Health Matters Web site was founded by a client to bring technical information and resources to clients, students and professionals. Find technical briefs on a wide range of mental health issues, ranging from treatment to self-help to advocacy to research as well as summaries of major diagnoses.
  

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Learning about medications

With recent advances in science and technology, clients now have more and better psychotropic drug options than in previous generations. Finding the right balance in medication can be a lengthy process for some clients. Here are resources that will help you understand how medications work, written by mental health professionals from organizations representing families, clients and researchers.

What is a formulary?
It is often difficult to discern whether certain medications are covered by insurance. The California Internet Formulary Reference guide, created by Citizens for the Right to Know and linked from the Mental Health Association of California, helps consumers research coverage.

Fact sheets about medications from NAMI
Each fact sheet on this "Information about illnesses and treatments" webpage includes links to organizations that provide support for people with specific diagnoses. The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) is a national research and advocacy organization that views mental illness as a "brain disorder."

Links about medications -The Mental Health Association of California
This is a portal to information on the Web about mental health medications. This page provides links to resources about medications, adverse reactions, California's formulary, and information from the Food and Drug Administration.

A booklet about medications from the National Institute of Mental Health
This resource provides easy-to-understand information about medications used for treating mental health problems. The site describes what different medications are used for, what their effects are and which medications are used for specific groups, and it offers an alphabetical index of medications. Included is information about effects on children, the elderly and women of childbearing years.

A self-help resource to assist you with medications
The U.S. Mental Health Information Center is an information clearinghouse that is part of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The brochure, "A Self-Help Guide to Using Medications," was written for clients and family members. Included is a list of questions to help you develop a collaborative relationship with your clinician.

Working with your psychiatrist
The National Empowerment Center is a SAMHSA Technical Assistance Center. Its mission is to carry a message of recovery, empowerment, hope and healing to people who have been diagnosed with mental illness. Find information on how to structure medication evaluation and follow-up appointments in order to cultivate collaboration between you and your psychiatrist.

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Dual diagnosis: When alcohol and drugs compound mental illness

Without diagnosis and treatment, many people with mental illness use alcohol and other substances to control symptoms, and they sometimes become addicted. Alcohol and drug dependence can exacerbate mental illness, resulting in some clients having "dual diagnosis" or "dual recovery," as they attempt to recover from both symptoms of mental illness and addiction. Here are some resources for treating dual-diagnosis.

• Find treatment in your community. The SAMHSA, in collaboration with the state of California, has a service locator that will identify programs in your community for alcohol and substance abuse. The site will tell you if these programs have a dual recovery emphasis, what languages are spoken and what forms of payment are accepted.
  
• Through this link, you can find sources for information on being in recovery from mental illness and alcohol/substance abuse, like the Dual Diagnosis Recovery Network.
  
• Find peer support groups for individuals facing recovery from psychiatric symptoms and alcohol/substances. Dual Recovery Anonymous is a 12-step program for individuals facing recovery from psychiatric symptoms and alcohol/substances.
  Northern California meetings
  Southern California meetings
  

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Understanding wellness and recovery

According the U.S. Surgeon General's report on mental health, recovery is a journey hallmarked by hope and expansion, despite the day-to-day challenges of having mental health symptoms. Recovery is about understanding and managing these symptoms and regaining one's sense of self. It's also about recovering from the stigma of having a mental illness. Clients view the process of recovery as unique for each person, depending on their strengths, life situations and culture...The guides listed below will explain the many different paths that lead towards recovery.

• The U.S. Mental Health Information Center is an information clearinghouse that is part of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The site includes nine downloadable how-to publications about mental health recovery. Topics include dealing with trauma, speaking out for yourself, making friends, building self-esteem, self-help, client rights, and action-planning for recovery.
  
• Mary Ellen Copeland's Web site provides various methods for nurturing wellness/recovery, including an explanation of Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP). Resources include seminars, correspondence courses, workbooks, videos, publications, and newsletters. Copeland used her experience with manic depression to develop the WRAP tool, which aims to bring insight into staying well and what to do when symptoms become difficult.

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The Hope and the Street Web site and discussion forums are provided solely for educational and informational purposes. As such, they are not meant to provide professional medical advice, counseling or services. Only a qualified medical professional who is familiar with your particular circumstances can provide specific guidance regarding your health questions and we encourage you to ask your doctor or health care provider any questions you may have relating to the information contained on this Web site. KQED does not preview, endorse, review, censor or control the content of pages linked to this site and therefore cannot be held responsible for errors or consequences arising from use of this information.