Los Angeles County Mental Health Services and Support
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH or DMH) provides mental health services through County-operated programs and contracted agencies. Services include crisis assessment, outpatient treatment, medication support, case management, peer support, and connections to other community resources.
County mental health help: Call the 24/7 Help Line at 800-854-7771 for support, service referrals, and crisis assessment. Start with the official Get Help Now page for current access instructions.
Suicide and emotional crisis support: Contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988 or texting 988.
Immediate danger or medical emergency: Call 911 if someone is threatening to use a weapon to hurt themselves or another person, or needs emergency medical attention. Move yourself and others to safety if necessary.
Independent, non-government information: This website is not affiliated with LACDMH. We do not provide treatment, monitor crises, arrange field responses, or accept official referrals or medical records.
Choose Your Next Step
| Your need | Where to start | What to discuss |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate mental health support or crisis assessment | Call the County Help Line at 800-854-7771, available 24/7. | What is happening, the person's location, immediate safety concerns, and whether in-person assistance may be needed. |
| Find a provider or begin ongoing treatment | Provider Directory or the County Help Line. | Age, service needs, location, language, insurance or payment questions, and appointment availability. |
| Help connecting with local services | Service Area Navigator Teams. | Your neighborhood, access barriers, cultural or language needs, and other support you are seeking. |
| Services for a child or young adult | Children's and Transition Age Youth programs, with Help Line assistance when needed. | Age, family or school concerns, current support, and any transition between care systems. |
| Older adult treatment or home-based care | Older Adult Services. | Treatment needs and whether mobility, frailty, or other limitations prevent clinic attendance. |
| Veteran or military family support | Veterans & Military Family Services. | Mental health needs, supportive services, and help submitting a non-urgent referral. |
| Appointments, portal access, or existing treatment | Your treating provider or the MyHealthPointe entry point on the LACDMH homepage. | The account or care issue and the provider's instructions. Portal messages are not a crisis response service. |
Immediate Help and Crisis Response
The County Help Line connects callers with mental health support, referrals, crisis assessment, and consideration of field response. Its call center also connects people with substance use services and specialized veteran support.
You can call when concerned about yourself or another person. Describe what you observe and any immediate safety concerns; you do not need to determine a diagnosis before asking for help.
Mobile Crisis Response
Through Alternative Crisis Response (ACR), call center staff assess whether in-person support from a Field Intervention Team is appropriate. A call does not automatically result in a team being dispatched, and response times are not fixed.
The department describes teams that include a mental health clinician and a community health worker. Responders assess the situation, work to de-escalate the crisis, and identify appropriate next steps.
Those steps may include psychiatric urgent care, social services, or hospitalization when necessary. The program seeks the least restrictive appropriate care, but involuntary hospitalization may be required in some circumstances.
Care After a Crisis
The County's crisis system includes psychiatric urgent care centers for short-term assessment and stabilization, crisis residential treatment in a home-like setting, and Follow-Up Teams that help connect people with continuing treatment.
Ask the Help Line which service is appropriate and how to access it. Confirm a facility's location, age coverage, and current intake arrangements before traveling.
While seeking assistance, stay calm, give the person space, and avoid arguments or judgmental remarks. Follow the call taker's instructions and prioritize your own safety.
Services, Costs and Access
The official services overview describes assessments, case management, crisis intervention, medication support, peer support, and other rehabilitative services. Care may take place in clinics, schools, hospitals, residential facilities, community settings, or people's homes.
Many programs focus on serious mental health conditions and related difficulties with daily functioning. Other services address crises, disaster-related needs, or connections to care. Requirements vary by program, so do not use a general description to decide on your own that you cannot ask for assistance.
If you are unsure where to begin, contact the Help Line and explain the support you need. Staff can discuss available services and the appropriate assessment or referral route.
Costs and Ability to Pay
LACDMH states that no one will be denied access to services because of an inability to pay and that a discounted or sliding fee schedule is available based on family size and income. This does not mean every service is free.
Ask the provider or access staff about eligibility, coverage, charges, and any information needed to assess payment arrangements. Confirm how these apply to the specific service being considered.
Language and Disability Assistance
The department provides free language assistance and auxiliary aids and services, including accessible documents such as braille and large print. Request assistance through the Help Line at 800-854-7771.
People with hearing or speech disabilities may use their preferred relay service or dial 711 and ask the operator to connect to the County Help Line.
Website translation and language availability at a treatment provider are different. Confirm the language support available for the actual appointment or service.
Find Providers and Local Assistance
Use the Provider Directory
The official Provider Directory helps residents search for mental health providers. Its page also links to the Behavioral Health Services Member Handbook and language assistance information.
- Open the official directory and review its current instructions.
- Use available filters to narrow the search.
- Consider the person's age, location, service needs, and preferred language.
- Contact the provider to confirm the services offered, intake requirements, and current appointment availability.
- If you cannot find a suitable option, ask the Help Line or a Service Area Navigator for assistance.
Directory listings can change. A listing does not guarantee that a provider currently has openings or that a particular program will accept the referral.
Service Area Navigators
Service Area Navigator Teams help individuals and families connect with mental health and other supportive services. They consider local availability and individual needs and may follow up on the connections they help arrange.
The official page provides a Navigator Roster and a District Locator for identifying the service area associated with a street address.
Navigators can assist with local access questions and service connections. Use the Help Line for immediate support and crisis assessment rather than waiting for a routine navigation response.
Programs by Age and Life Stage
These age groups describe the department's main service organization. Individual programs may have additional requirements or different age coverage.
Children Ages 0–15
The Children's System of Care provides family-focused services for children experiencing mental health challenges through County-operated and contracted agencies.
Programs include Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Children's Full Service Partnership, Therapeutic Behavioral Services, and school-based access services. Tell access staff about family, school, or daily functioning concerns so they can discuss suitable options.
Transition Age Youth Ages 16–25
Transition Age Youth (TAY) programs provide mental health and supportive services for young people with serious mental illness, with particular attention to those who are unserved or underserved.
The programs address needs such as housing instability, substance use, a first episode of major mental illness, and transitions from children's services, child welfare, juvenile justice, or institutional care. The official page lists treatment, field-based programs, and related community resources.
Adult Outpatient Treatment
Adult outpatient services include assessment, individual and group therapy, medication support, case management, and crisis intervention.
Care may also connect people with housing or employment support. These connections do not guarantee a housing placement or job; discuss the available assistance with the treating program.
Older Adults and GENESIS
Older Adult Services serves adults age 60 and older through County-operated and contracted clinics. Services may include assessment, case management, individual or family treatment, and crisis intervention.
The GENESIS Countywide Older Adult Program provides field-based outpatient care for adults age 60 and older who have severe mental illness and are homebound because of impaired mobility, frailty, or other limitations.
For GENESIS information, call 213-351-7284. Older adults who can attend a clinic can use the Provider Directory or Help Line to locate an appropriate program.
Veterans and Military Family Services
Veterans & Military Family Services (VMFS) offers mental health support and connections to community resources for veterans and military families. The program states that assistance is available regardless of discharge or service status or eligibility for VA healthcare or housing assistance.
Services include counseling, medication support, case management, peer support, groups, outreach, and connections to housing, employment, and transportation resources. Veterans claims assistance is referred to accredited Veterans Service Officers through the County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The Veteran Support Line is reached through 800-854-7771, option 3. Published specialty hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays. These hours differ from the general Help Line's 24/7 availability.
Use the VMFS page for non-urgent referral instructions and in-person support locations. Confirm arrangements before visiting. A routine referral or email is not a substitute for crisis assistance.
Prepare for a Service Request
Explain the situation in your own words. The following information can help staff identify an appropriate starting point:
- The person's age and the area where services are needed.
- Whether you need immediate support, ongoing treatment, or help locating a provider.
- Current concerns and how they affect daily life.
- Language assistance, relay service, or accessibility needs.
- Mobility or transportation barriers.
- Existing providers or treatment, when relevant.
- Related concerns such as substance use, housing instability, or a transition between care systems.
- Questions about insurance, costs, or the sliding fee schedule.
For a crisis call, describe immediate safety concerns and the person's location. Do not delay asking for urgent help while trying to gather routine paperwork.
Provide sensitive information through the designated department or provider process. Do not submit medical records or identification documents to this independent website.
Existing Clients and Health Records
MyHealthPointe is a portal for LACDMH clients. Depending on the available account features, clients can access health information such as appointments, laboratory results, electronic medical records, and correspondence with their care provider.
Use the MyHealthPointe entry point on the official LACDMH homepage. Ask your treating program about account access and the information available for your care.
If you need copies of records or information that is not available through the portal, ask the provider maintaining those records about its request and authorization process. Records held by a contracted provider may require a request to that organization.
The portal serves existing clients; the Provider Directory helps people locate services. Do not use portal messages for crisis assistance. Use the Help Line for immediate behavioral health support.
Mental Health Contacts and Official Entry Points
| Service | Contact or official entry point | Purpose and availability |
|---|---|---|
| County Help Line | 800-854-7771 Get Help Now |
Available 24/7 for mental health support, referrals, crisis assessment, and consideration of field response. |
| Language and disability assistance | 800-854-7771 Preferred relay service or 711 |
Request free language assistance or auxiliary aids and services. With 711, ask the operator to connect to the Help Line. |
| Provider search | Provider Directory | Search for providers and confirm services, intake requirements, language support, and appointment availability directly. |
| Local navigation | Service Area Navigator Roster | Local service connections and access assistance. Use the roster and locator to identify the appropriate team. |
| GENESIS Older Adult Program | 213-351-7284 Older Adult Services |
Information about field-based outpatient care for eligible homebound adults age 60 and older. |
| Veteran Support Line | 800-854-7771, option 3 VMFS information and referrals |
Veteran and military family support. Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays. |
| VMFS in-person support | Bob Hope Patriotic Hall 1816 S. Figueroa St., 6th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90015 Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Hospital Behavioral Health Center 12021 Wilmington Ave., Floor 4D Los Angeles, CA 90059 |
Locations listed on the VMFS page. Confirm current hours, staffing, and visit arrangements before traveling. |
| Existing-client portal | MyHealthPointe through the LACDMH homepage. | Access available account features and health information. Contact the treating program for assistance; do not use portal messages for crises. |
Published local operating hours are Pacific Time. Specialty programs may have different hours from the 24/7 Help Line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I start if I do not know which program I need?
Call the County Help Line at 800-854-7771 and explain the situation. You can also use the Provider Directory or a Service Area Navigator for help with routine service connections.
Can I call because I am concerned about a family member?
Yes. Describe your concerns and ask about appropriate support or referral options. Staff may need to speak directly with the person or complete an assessment. Being a family member does not automatically authorize access to confidential treatment information.
Are all County mental health services free?
No. LACDMH states that inability to pay will not prevent access and that a discounted or sliding fee schedule is available based on family size and income. Ask how coverage, eligibility, and charges apply to the specific service. Language assistance and auxiliary aids and services are provided free.
Does calling guarantee a mobile team or an appointment?
No. Call center staff assess the situation and determine the appropriate response or referral. Field deployment, program acceptance, and appointment availability depend on the circumstances and service requirements.
Who can help with patients' rights or treatment concerns?
Use the Patients' Rights resources linked from the official services page. A Service Area Navigator may also help with access concerns. A website feedback form is not the same as a treatment complaint or rights inquiry.
Where can I find resources for grief, eating disorders, or other specific concerns?
The mental health resources page organizes information by topic, including grief and loss, eating disorders, disaster-related needs, and first responders. Linked resources may be operated by outside organizations; check the provider and current service details.
Information on this page is drawn from the official resources linked above. Program requirements, contact arrangements, and service availability may change; confirm current instructions with LACDMH or the responsible provider.
For treatment, crisis assistance, referrals, appointments, or health records, contact the designated official service. Messages and documents submitted to this website do not reach the Department of Mental Health.