LACDMH Blog

On September 30, we partnered with Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) to host a wellbeing workshop and soccer clinic to promote physical and mental wellbeing for our County’s elementary and high school students.

The evening kicked off at Theodore Roosevelt High School’s auditorium with a “Strong Mind, Strong Game” workshop. During the presentation, our clinicians Yolanda Renteria and Melanie Lee led discussions highlighting mental wellness, physical activity, sports participation and how to balance them alongside schoolwork for a healthy, thriving life. This included activities asking students to name ways to de-stress, talk about benefits of playing sports and identifying healthy habits to help improve their academic and athletic performance.

This was followed by an hour of soccer practice drills and scrimmage matches on the Roosevelt HS field alongside LAFC players Tommy Mihalić and Kenny Nielsen, where participants improved their individual and teamwork skills. The event concluded with providing boxed meals and LAFC souvenirs to the students and their families, as well as photo and autograph opportunities with both Mihalić and Nielsen.

Thank you LAFC for your partnership to make this event a success in promoting health, wellbeing and purpose to our County’s youth!

We recently visited the nonprofit and contract provider Wolf Connection at its sanctuary in Acton to highlight its unique Wolf Therapy® program for our youth clients. Participants in this multi-week empowerment workshop build life skills by observing and interacting with the organization’s rescued wolves and wolfdogs with guidance from Wolf Connection’s staff. This includes developing resilience by learning about the animals’ history with—and recovery from—prior trauma in captivity, improving socialization from watching their interactions one-on-one and as a pack, and creating a safe space for participants to share their experiences, ask for support, and actively engage with various skills-building activities in and around the sanctuary.

We thank Wolf Connection for their collaboration to provide this one-of-a-kind wellbeing resource for our youth clients, and we encourage you to learn more by watching the video below.

Mental health is as essential as physical health in shaping a healthy, balanced and thriving individual. Guided by this belief, on May 3, the Armenian community of Los Angeles County gathered for a groundbreaking event dedicated to promoting mental wellness — the Arev Armenian Wellness Festival for Kids and Families. Throughout the day, more than 600 Armenian children and families from Glendale, Burbank, North Hollywood, Granada Hills and other cities with significant Armenian populations participated in the festival’s activities, workshops and wellness programs. The choice of Glendale as the festival’s location carried special significance, as the city is home to one of the largest Armenian communities outside of Armenia.

Organized by the Oolik Educational organization under Urartu Inc. and sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), the Arev Armenian Wellness Festival for Kids and Families was created as a community-driven response to the growing mental health challenges facing children, teenagers and families. The festival aimed to raise awareness about mental wellness, reduce stigma surrounding mental health conversations and provide culturally relevant resources by bringing together mental health professionals, educators and community organizations.

“Through the many festivals, educational programs, and cultural events our organization has organized for the Armenian community, we have had the opportunity to engage with parents and health care professionals. These conversations revealed significant concerns surrounding mental health, particularly among children and teenagers, and highlighted the challenges families face in finding reliable information, resources and support,” said Nelli Ghukasyan, a festival organizer.

“Because of these growing challenges, we recognized the importance of addressing mental health as a priority. We are deeply grateful to LACDMH for recognizing the importance of the mental health and wellbeing of Armenian children and families and for sponsoring this vital community event.”

The festival’s opening ceremony at Glendale’s Pacific Community Center was led by Anna Yaralyan, Psy.D. at LACDMH, and liaison of the Eastern European/Middle Eastern (EE/ME) UsCC subcommittee, along with Nelli Ghukasyan. In opening remarks, Dr. Yaralyan highlighted the importance of supporting children’s emotional wellbeing from an early age.

“Promoting children’s wellbeing, happiness and positive mental health is an essential part of keeping them safe and helping them develop socially, emotionally and behaviorally. These early experiences play a significant role in shaping their future and helping them become well-rounded individuals,” said Dr. Yaralyan. “On behalf of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, it is my great honor and pleasure to bring the Arev Festival to our community in collaboration with Oolik. The knowledge, connections and memories created at this festival will stay with families and children for years to come.”

A central element of the festival was a series of educational seminars led by mental health professionals. Seminar topics were carefully selected based on conversations and surveys conducted with parents and mental health professionals to ensure that the content reflected the real concerns and challenges facing Armenian families. Throughout the day, eight renowned experts presented seminars on current topics and engaged directly with parents by answering questions and offering guidance on issues affecting children and families. Discussions addressed children’s emotional wellbeing, domestic violence, mothers’ mental health during pregnancy and postpartum periods, children’s self-esteem and confidence, the effects of technology on a developing brain, strategies for preventing substance use among adolescents and parenting.

One of the seminar speakers, Violet Mesrkhani, Ph.D., who addressed the impact of technology and unlimited screen time, expressed her appreciation for the festival; “It is extremely important to have opportunities to speak with our community about mental health, and I am grateful that this festival provided everyone with access to valuable information free of charge.”

Speaker, Serina Nersisian, LMFT, shared her positive experience participating in the festival; “Thank you so much for organizing such an incredible event for our Armenian community. It was clear how much care and hard work went into making it such a success. I want to thank you for including me among such a wonderful panel of speakers. I truly enjoyed sharing information and connecting with Armenian parents in our community.”

Throughout the festival, the joy and excitement of children filled every corner of the Glendale Pacific Community Center. The Armenian Wellness Festival offered families a full day of interactive and enriching experiences designed to nurture children’s creativity, confidence and emotional wellbeing. Children and teenagers participated in a variety of hands-on activities, including robotics, arts and crafts, chess, martial arts, floral design, cooking, dance and tennis. Therapeutic activities were selected to encourage creativity, focus, self-expression, teamwork and confidence-building.

The STEM educational center Tinker Club brought a world of technology, creativity and innovation to the festival, including interactive robotics activities to build children’s self-esteem and emotional resilience.

“We are happy to be part of this festival, which includes activities such as STEM to show that hands-on experiences can help reduce stress by giving children a sense of accomplishment and control, while collaborative projects encourage social skills and teamwork,” said Meline Zohrabian, Founder and Director of Tinker Club.

The festival also highlighted the importance of healthy lifestyle choices through interactive nutrition education. Nutritionist Sabin Eisaian transformed learning about food into a fun experience by inviting children to become “sugar detectives.” Through an engaging activity, children explored how much sugar is hidden in popular drinks, cereals and snacks, learning about its impact on health and discovering ways to make better choices.

One of the most popular experiences was the opportunity for children to learn the traditional Armenian art of making lavash, the iconic Armenian flatbread, guided by the founders of Mush Lavash, a community-recognized organization with a long-standing commitment to preserving Armenian culinary traditions.

The festival’s sports and intellectual activities were another highlight, featuring tennis, martial arts and chess programs led by experienced instructors and respected professionals from Los Angeles-area clubs, demonstrating how structured play and skill-building can contribute to children’s emotional resilience and personal growth. Levon Altounian, International Master, eight-time California State Champion, and founder of the Angeleno Chess Club, shared his reflections on the importance of chess as a developmental and therapeutic activity.

“It was a really wonderful event, and I am grateful for the opportunity to participate,” said Altounian. “For many children, especially those who enjoy strategy games, chess creates a safe environment to practice critical thinking, managing emotions, learning from mistakes, and building confidence — skills that can extend beyond the chessboard into school, relationships and everyday life.”

The floral art station also attracted significant attention, allowing children to express their creativity while designing beautiful flower arrangements. Other art areas provided opportunities for children to draw and build sandcastles.

The Arev Festival stage featured inspiring performances by children’s and young adults’ song and dance groups, music schools and educational institutions. Young performers shared their creativity through music and dance, creating an atmosphere of celebration and connection while inspiring families to explore the arts and extracurricular activities that contribute to holistic development and overall wellbeing.

“Thank you to the organizers for bringing another exceptional event to our city,” said Glendale City Council Member Elen Asatryan. “The Arev Wellness Festival is a wonderful example of what our community can achieve when we come together with purpose and heart. Your dedication to enriching the lives of Glendale families is truly appreciated.”

The festival featured a dedicated resource center, where representatives from public and private mental health organizations connected directly with families, answered questions and provided information about services and support programs. Participating organizations included LACDMH, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Glendale Police Department Substance Abuse and Wellness Resource Program, the Armenian American School Psychology Association and other community organizations.

Nancy Quevedo, representing LACDMH’s United Mental Health Promoters Program, emphasized the importance of community outreach and education: “We are here providing mental health resources for the community, and it has been a great pleasure to be part of this meaningful event.”

The festival’s success was reflected in the smiles, excitement and active participation of children throughout the day. Their enthusiasm and engagement demonstrated the importance of creating spaces where children can learn, express themselves, build confidence and connect with others in a supportive environment. Parents also emphasized the value of the festival, noting that it provided an opportunity to access valuable mental health information, receive professional guidance, learn about available community resources and discover extracurricular activities that support children’s emotional and social development.

“It was a fantastic event!” said Mary, mother of 11-year-old Eva. “Eva had so much fun participating in the art therapy activities, playing chess and spending time at the robotics booth,” Mary said. “As a mother of three children, I constantly face different challenges related to school and parenting, so I truly appreciated having the opportunity to attend the parenting seminar, listen to the speakers and ask questions. It was helpful and inspiring. The festival created a positive, educational and welcoming environment for families and children. We look forward to attending again next year.”

In the two months leading up to the festival, organizers conducted a comprehensive community outreach and awareness campaign focused on mental health education. Through informational materials, social media videos and conversations with community members, parents and professionals, the organizers worked to create greater awareness around important mental health topics and encourage open dialogue. Educators and community leaders highlighted the festival’s role in breaking stigma, encouraging dialogue and helping families support children’s mental health.

“The Arev Wellness Festival is a truly meaningful and important event for our community. It brings people together around values we deeply cherish — mental health, family and a strong sense of belonging,” said Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian. “This festival helps reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by reminding us that mental health is something that concerns everyone. Even those who consider themselves mentally healthy can continue to learn, grow and take steps to maintain their wellbeing. Just as physical health is essential, mental health is a vital part of overall wellness. I commend the organizers for their dedication and look forward to seeing this wonderful tradition continue.”

Designed as a family-centered experience, the festival offered educational opportunities alongside a welcoming space for families to connect and spend quality time together. Complimentary refreshments, including coffee, snacks and lunch, allowed attendees to fully engage throughout the day and enjoy the festival atmosphere. More than just a community event, the Arev Festival was a meaningful celebration of family, connection, education and wellness.

Submitted by Nane Avagyan, a journalist, community organizer, and co-chair of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s Eastern European/Middle Eastern (EE/ME) Underserved Cultural Communities (UsCC) Subcommittee.

It can feel isolating to live with or support a loved one living with untreated or undertreated schizophrenia and/or other psychotic disorders. To provide direct, clinical support to the individual and their families and loved ones, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) hosts a Monthly CARE Q&A on the fourth (4th) Thursday of every month from 4 to 5 p.m. to share information and answer questions about Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court. 

These office hours are a safe, completely confidential and supportive environment where people can ask questions about eligibility, petition filings and County services. You can also simply listen on mute to learn more. 

• Next Session: Thursday, August 27, from 4 to 5 p.m. 

• Call in by phone at (323) 776-6996, conference ID 593 623 338#. 

Recently, Los Angeles County’s CARE Court program has seen an 85% increase in petitions filed to join the CARE program. The program is part of a broader plan to rebuild California’s behavioral health system to provide a least-restrictive, structured pathway to stabilize people earlier and prevent more intensive interventions. 

Learn more about CARE Court on our website here.

The Library Engagement & Access Program (LEAP), an innovative partnership between the L.A. County Library and LACDMH, was awarded a 2026 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties. The program embeds DMH teams directly into 17 high-need library locations across Los Angeles County to provide mental health support, referrals for housing and more.  

L.A. County’s public libraries are inclusive and trusted community-centered spaces and provide learning and connection to people from all walks of life. Since restarting the program in June 2025, LEAP has engaged more than 1,500 individuals, connected more than 1,000 people with essential resources and successfully placed 229 people into interim housing. Learn more about the program and its locations on the L.A. County Library website.  

LEAP offers a wide range of services, including community resources information such as food pantries, showers, laundry services, CalFresh and other forms of assistance. Patrons can also receive access to health care services, self-care and wellness guidance and coping strategies for stress and daily challenges. 

LEAP relaunched after Second District Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and Fourth District Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn co-authored a motion to bring back a program that paused during COVID.

A new Homeboy Café hosted its grand opening in the Behavioral Health Center at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Medical Campus on June 17. The joint project between LACDMH, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) and Homeboy Industries began in 2023 and is a key reentry program for formerly incarcerated and gang-related individuals.  

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting event featured remarks from LACDMH Director Lisa H. Wong, Psy.D., Second District Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Homeboy Industries Founder Father Greg Boyle and more.  

The partnership between the County and Homeboy Industries exemplifies the transformative power of compassion, second chances and empathy. The cafe employs members of Homeboy Industries’ 18-month reentry training program and has been providing nutrient-rich meals to behavioral health center patients since the 2023 partnership with Los Angeles County began. The cafe, which sits on the ground floor of the behavioral health center, features a full menu of signature coffee drinks, artisan-baked goods, grab-and-go meals and Homeboy’s famous chilaquiles.   

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, LACDMH’s fourth annual Take Action for Mental Health L.A. County campaign continues to highlight and promote the importance of mental health and wellbeing throughout Los Angeles County with numerous events and activations throughout May. LACDMH kicked off with a Countywide celebration at Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park on May 3, followed by eight regional festivals at community colleges within each of our service areas throughout the rest of the month. These Department-hosted events featured free wellness services, live entertainment, creative activities and access to wellbeing resources. Select photos from this year’s events are available on our Flickr album.

Additionally, LACDMH have provided $2.1M in grants to 84 community organizations that offered 137 in-person and virtual events throughout the County and partnered with high-profile organizations — including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Football Club, Univision, and Meruelo Media — to raise awareness of this campaign.

We thank everyone who joined us for this year’s Take Action activities. To learn more, check out the video below and this YouTube playlist recapping each LACDMH-hosted event.

The Seventeenth Statewide Conference, themed “Brighter Together,” was a multidisciplinary conference between physical health, mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems that took place at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City on April 21 and 22.  

Formerly known as the Integrated Care Conference, the two-day event provided plenary sessions and workshops to participants from academia, industry and government, promoting partnerships and sharing knowledge. The conference is a collaboration between the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), the Los Angeles County Departments of Health Services and Public Health, UCLA Integrated Substance Use & Addiction Programs, LACDMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership, and the California Department of State Hospitals.  

The plenary talks on day one were “Housing, Health and Hope” by Heidi Behforouz, M.D., LACDMH’s Chief Medical Officer for Los Angeles County’s Homeless Services and Housing; and “Possibility through Purpose: The Road to Workforce Wellness” by Jeremy Segall, Chief Wellness Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals and Charmaine Dorsey, LCSW, Chief Wellness Officer for Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services.  

Day two featured a panel discussion, themed “Supporting Adolescent Behavioral Health in California: Challenges and Emerging Opportunities.” The panel featured Howard Padwa, Ph.D., health services and qualitative researcher at UCLA’s Integrated Substance Abuse Programs; Rachel Castaneda, Ph.D., Research Psychologist and Professor at the Azusa Pacific University Department of Psychology; Toby Guevin, Program Manager for the Health & Wellness Division of Nevada County’s Public Health Department; Erica Reynoso, Ph.D., LCSW, Mental Health Program Manager III; Joseph Rao, freelance filmmaker for Perseverance Studio; and, Scott Hunter, M.D., LACDMH Health Psychiatrist. 

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) is highlighting year-round, in-language services and culturally aware programs for Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in recognition of May as AANHPI Heritage Month. 

In the past year, LACDMH served 7,573 individuals identifying as AANHPI in outpatient mental health services, representing 3.6% of all outpatient clients. In contrast, approximately 1.4 million residents in Los Angeles County identify as Asian, yet only 2.85% accessed outpatient mental health services. These data indicate persistent disparities in service utilization, which may be associated with barriers such as stigma, limited awareness of services, and gaps in culturally and linguistically appropriate care. 

LACDMH provides services in clients’ primary languages, including, but not limited to, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Tagalog, Hindi, Samoan, Tongan and Khmer (Cambodian). 

The Department offers a range of culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and services for AANHPI community members, including: 

• Tea Time: A weekly support group hosted every Tuesday at the Langley Senior Center in Monterey Park focused on reducing social isolation and improving overall wellbeing among older adults. 

• Jewelry-Making with Peers: A twice-a-month support group that meets on the first and third Wednesdays at the Langley Senior Center in Monterey Park. Attendees are creatively inspired and provided with emotional support while building positive peer connections and developing healthy coping skills. 

• Boba Break: A support group that meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Azusa Youth & Family Center, offering boba drinks and a safe place for youths and families to prioritize mental health and wellbeing with positivity. 

• Coastal Asian Pacific Islander (API) Mental Health Clinic: A Korean-language parent support group that provides psychoeducation and promotes engagement in mental health services for families supporting adult children living with schizophrenia. 

• Koreatown Mental Health Clinic: A weekly tri-lingual (Korean, Spanish and English) arts and crafts group where attendees receive emotional support while fostering meaningful connections and developing resilience strategies. The clinic also hosts a weekly Korean-language family-to-family support group that provides mental health education for families supporting adult loved ones living with a mental health diagnosis. 

• Long Beach Asian Pacific Islander Mental Health Clinic: A weekly support group for Khmer-speaking clients designed to reduce social isolation and enhance community connectedness. 

• Asian Pacific Islander (API) Underserved Cultural Community: A monthly stakeholder convening that provides input on program development, service delivery, and strategies to improve outreach and engagement among underserved AANHPI populations. 

While LACDMH recognizes AANHPI Heritage Month as an opportunity to elevate awareness, the Department provides culturally and linguistically appropriate services throughout the year for all Los Angeles County residents. LACDMH encourages individuals to access the 24/7 Help Line for Mental Health and Substance Use Services at (800) 854-7771, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, walk-in clinics, peer resource centers, and services delivered in partnership with County agencies and community-based organizations. For additional information, visit dmh.lacounty.gov.