Mental Health

Latest California Healthline Stories

Evaluation Trumps Incarceration in L.A. Police Dept. Mental Health Efforts

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Mental Evaluation Unit is winning rave reviews locally, in other states and from a few foreign countries, as well. Stakeholders say the program could be even better with more resources.

Little Hoover Commission Issues Report on State’s Mental Health Services

California health officials need to focus on better monitoring and counties need to have standards to measure performance of the Mental Health Services Act, according to a new report from the Little Hoover Commission.

Draft Plan Emerges To Reduce Disparities in Mental Health Care

After four years of planning, the state’s Department of Public Health has released its strategic plan to address mental health care disparities experienced by Californians of various races, ethnicities and sexual orientations.

New Los Angeles Program Working To Divert Mentally Ill, Homeless From Jail

Replicating a model already delivering impressive results in other metropolitan areas, Los Angeles County has implemented an innovative, cost-cutting jail diversion and alternate sentencing program for the chronically homeless and seriously mentally ill.

UCLA Plans Behavioral Health Center

A new research center in Los Angeles plans to focus on bringing mental health research work to real-life programs and public policy — the urban version of a similar new facility at UC-Davis.

Data, Oversight Cited as Central Needs To Improve State’s Mental Health Services

Ten years after California voters passed Proposition 63 and created the Mental Health Services Act, the Little Hoover Commission is looking at how well that act is working and what still needs to be done to make it better.

How Jail Survey Affects Health Care

The expansion of the Medi-Cal program will be keenly felt by Californians in county jails or on probation, many of whom have not had access to coverage before. One researcher said the transitional time for inmates is a perfect opportunity to gain coverage.