Prevent and/or mitigate mental health challenges by identifying individuals at risk and in need and getting them timely access to the indicated resources.
Consistently identifying people in need and providing expedient navigation to resources requires a comprehensive approach. We will continue expanding public campaigns to promote greater awareness and understanding of suffering and mental health in communities (Strategy 1A.1). In addition, through focused training across our communities, people experiencing mental health issues and/or suffering in life will be more readily identified so we can help get them to needed resources (Strategy 1A.2). To this end, the navigation, coordination and follow-up across our system must be improved to ensure that individuals of all ages, families and communities get the resources they want and need (Strategy 1A.3). And, every strategy will be viewed through the lens of culture to ensure we are providing outreach and engagement that takes into consideration individuals’ cultural backgrounds and linguistic needs.
Education and Awareness (Strategy 1A.1)
Promote knowledge and awareness of mental health in communities and reduce stigma.
- Expand investments for additional public outreach campaigns
- Promote mental health education and awareness in our communities, including a focus on school-based programs to reach children and youth and faith-based efforts
- Educate communities about local resources
- Ensure individuals know how to find help for themselves, family, children, friends and colleagues, continuing our ongoing efforts to reduce the stigma around mental illness and promote the concept of mental wellbeing
Early Identification and Engagement (Strategy 1A.2)
Recognize individuals in need and provide early engagement in the community whenever and wherever possible.
- Invest in community access platforms as ideal entry points to resources
- Use homes, clinics, parks, libraries, schools, places of worship, community centers and other gathering points in local communities as platforms for providing access to mental health information for children, youth, families and individuals in comfortable settings
- Train up the ecosystem of community access platforms to identify needs and coordinate resources to meet them
- Provide training to ensure those who work at community-based access points are more knowledgeable about mental health issues and can better recognize community members (including children and youth) who may be in need, and engage them and connect them to appropriate resources
- Improve health equity through better coordinated care and community collaboration
- Expand local community resources for preventing and mitigating stressors
- Invest in and expand access to more programs that promote effective coping skills, parenting classes and support for children and teachers, and school-wide interventions to promote a positive mental health climate
- Equip community access platforms to help address community trauma and promote community healing
- Train professional staff at LA County and City agencies involved in human services
- Equip these staff members to recognize and engage children, youth and adults at risk for or experiencing mental health challenges in order to connect them to appropriate resources
Navigation and Follow-up (Strategy 1A.3)
Partner with communities to create pathways to resources and ensure individuals actually receive the resources they need.
- Improve navigation to and coordination with resources
- Make it easier for community members and the organizations that help them to find culturally competent and linguistically accessible resources that can help meet their needs
- Enforce live hand-offs to resources as the intended standard practice
- For individuals who are being introduced to new resources and settings, set an expectation that community partners will actively transition them to those resources in a manner that helps ensure a solid and sustained connection
- Follow up to ensure that community members’ needs are being met
- Use consistent follow-up to ensure the connection to resources was made and sustained, and track this follow-up in a structured manner across the system
Learn more about Community goals 1B (Social Support) & 1C (Outpatient Care)
Back to LACDMH Strategic Plan