Los Angeles County Supervisors Increase Funds for Mental Health Services
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a plan to spend $11 million to expand mental health services, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. The plan will provide funding for patient care at the county's four psychiatric emergency departments, a new residential program and a 12-bed crisis residential program at Hillview Mental Health Center in Lake View Terrace.
Since last year, the number of admissions to the psychiatric EDs has increased by 16% and now totals about 2,000 people a month.
"We need more beds, and this will help us meet that need," Supervisor Michael Antonovich said. "This is a severe problem" (Anderson, Los Angeles Daily News, 7/20).