Access to Services

There is "No Wrong Door" to accessing mental health services. There are many ways to find the type of service that you need. If you have a private health plan that covers mental health services, contact your health plan administrator.

If you have Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, or no insurance, here are some resources to call:

MHA's Information and Assistance Line
888-242-2522
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday

The National Mental Health Association of Greater Los Angeles (MHA) helps individuals locate services in Los Angeles County. Our organization sponsors an Information and Assistance help line as well as an after-hours support and resource line run by and for people with mental illness.

MHA's Information and Assistance team places an emphasis on assisting those who are do not have health insurance, have little or no ability to pay for services or receive Medi-Cal. Working one-to-one with individuals who call or e-mail us, we locate the specific kind of mental health service they need for themselves, a family member or friend.

Project Return: The Next Step Friendship Line
888-448-9777
6 p.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week

Sponsored by MHA, the Friendship Line is a support and resource line offering peer-to-peer support and information about mental health resources, with the capability to make a connection to crisis lines. Using a toll-free number, it operates seven evenings a week, 365 days a year.

Department of Mental Health Access Center Line
800-854-7771
24 hours, 7 days a week

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) offers a 24-hour hotline number for crisis and information referrals. It also provides a comprehensive listing of service areas for adult or children to find the language and staff available. For its database of service areas and available services, visit www.dmh.co.la.ca.us/mulitlinguistic.htm.

Professional counselors will answer your call, help you through a crisis, or provide referrals for services. Spanish-speaking counselors and assistance in other languages (through Language Line Services) are available at no cost.

There is also a network of fee-for-service therapists who provide mental health services for Medi-Cal-eligible people. DMH provides this list on its Web site as well as service provider addresses, programs and linguistic specialty. To request a paper copy of this list, call its 24-hour line.

You can get more information about services from the county's Department of Public Social Services by calling: 213-250-8055, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In Los Angeles County, services are sometimes offered by county clinics and sometimes by contracted provider agencies. These providers usually accept Medi-Cal, Medicare and other insurance.

United Way Info Line
800-339-6993
24 hours, 7 days

Info Line is a toll-free referral service. Info Line is a United Way-funded service created specifically to help put people in touch with a wide range of services, including services beyond mental health care. Additional service numbers for specific regions are:

Antelope Valley 800-339-6993	Burbank/Glendale 818-956-1100	LA Airport Area 310-671-7464
Long Beach/South Bay 310-603-8962	Los Angeles 213-686-0950	San Fernando Valley 818-501-4447
San Gabriel Valley 626-350-6833	West Los Angeles 310-551-2929	TDD (For the Deaf Only) 800-660-4026