by H. Chung So, Public Information Officer

L.A. County’s Veteran Suicide Review Team (VSRT) officially kicked off with its first meeting yesterday at LACDMH’s headquarters, beginning a collaborative and data-informed process to analyze veteran suicides and look for opportunities to prevent additional suicides in the veteran community.

The partnership included staff and resources from multiple County departments, including co-chair departments LACDMH, Medical Examiner/Coroner, Public Health, as well as additional representatives from Military and Veterans Affairs, local, state, federal, and private agencies. Together, they will systematically examine veteran suicide, with a focus on identifying service gaps or unmet needs so that resources can be enhanced to better support veterans’ well-being.

VSRT’s creation was introduced as a board motion by L.A. County Supervisors Kathryn Barger, and it was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors. LACDMH is the lead administrative agency for VSRT during its one-year pilot phase.

La Tina Jackson, Deputy Director of LACDMH’s Countywide Engagement Division, spoke about the need to address suicide in the veteran community. “The unfortunate reality is that veterans die by suicide at four times more than the national average,” said Ms. Jackson. “They have a 57 percent higher risk for death by suicide than those who have not served. This is the disproportionate but preventable burden that each of us gathered here today has made a commitment to course correct. It is that commitment, that promise to our veterans and their families that we commence and commemorate today.”

Learn more about VSRT.

Individuals and families who are interested in participating in Section 8 housing program will soon be able to put their names on the waiting list. This housing choice voucher program aids low-income families to be able to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) will open the waiting list lottery for Section 8 between Oct. 17 to Oct. 30 and interested individuals may apply online through HACLA’s website.

In accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations, HACLA must maintain a waiting list for the Section 8 program, and the current list – which was last opened in 2017 – will be exhausted soon.

In preparation for the application’s launch on Oct. 17, HACLA is working with partner agencies and organizations to increase awareness of the HACLA’s application period and process, ensure equitable application access, and support individuals who face barriers with online applications. For more information, refer to HACLA’s announcement letter and fact sheet (English/Spanish) about the waiting list lottery opening, and additional materials will be published on HACLA’s website in early October.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and LACDMH will join numerous mental health organizations and campaigns – including Know The Signs, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 988 Lifeline, Didi Hirsch, and many others – to raise awareness and inspire action for suicide prevention.

The highlight of this month-long effort is the 12^th Annual Suicide Prevention Summit hosted by the Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network. Held from Sept. 14 to 16, this virtual conference will bring together a diverse group of mental health experts, suicide prevention advocates, and those with lived experiences to share latest findings, personal insights, and practical skills that are vital to saving lives, supporting suicide attempt survivors, and helping those who have lost a loved one to suicide. This year’s summit theme is “Healing Pathways for Support and Connection”, and the events will focus on developing relationships, communities, and networks that foster healing and interaction to enhance collective resilience and well-being.

We have also updated the LACDMH website with suicide prevention resources for anyone seeking support for themselves or a loved one.  We encourage you to seek help if you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis or are having thoughts of suicide, including calling or texting ‘988’ or through online chat on 988 Lifeline’s website. (You can also learn more about the recently launched 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on our website.)

by H. Chung So, Public Information Officer

Established in 2009 and expanded in 2018, LACDMH’s School Threat Assessment and Response Team (START) was developed as a response to the Virginia Tech Shooting in 2007. It identified the need for mental health resources and supportive services to help prevent premeditated school violence.  At the time of its formation, START was the first program of its kind in the nation, bringing together professionals from educational, law enforcement, and behavioral health settings in a partnership to specifically prevent and address school violence.

“What we are here to do is to enhance and coordinate the services offered by school staff, mental health clinicians, and first responders,” said Maria Martinez, Ph.D., START’s Mental Health Clinical Supervisor. “In doing so, we reduce the likelihood of school violence by identifying early warning signs and connecting troubled individuals with appropriate resources before they resort to harming others or themselves.”

To highlight the demand for such services, Dr. Martinez and Miriam Brown, Deputy Director of LACDMH’s Emergency Outreach and Triage Division, cited the findings of the national Safe School Initiative Report. The report, which studied current or former students who attacked their schools through potentially lethal means, found that assailants often show concerning behavior – such as difficulty adjusting to social groups, prior actions resulting in school disciplinary action, and displaying an interest in violence – prior to their planning and initiating the attack.

By identifying these individuals at an early stage and intervening with appropriate services and resources, START staff and their community partners help stabilize their volatile thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, preventing explicit, implied, or hidden threats from escalating into actual acts of violence.
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LACDMH recently participated in two grand opening ceremonies to provide services and support for individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

La Paz Apartments in the East Los Angeles community opened its doors on June 30. The grand opening brought out LACDMH leadership and staff along with Supervisor Hilda Solis, Meta Housing Corporation, Western Community Housing, and LifeSTEPs. This affordable housing development features 42 apartment units, on-site amenities, community spaces, and supportive programs designed to help individuals and families with mental health challenges who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the LAC+USC Restorative Care Village (RCV) took place on July 6. LACDMH joined State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Supervisor Solis, Department of Health Services, Department of Public Works, and LAC+USC Medical Center for the special event, which celebrated an innovative space that provides a full continuum of clinical and supportive services in a central location to help clients heal, recover, and reintegrate into their communities.

Additionally, the RCV will support a smooth transition between different care settings, including psychiatric emergency departments, inpatient units, mental health urgent care centers, residential treatment programs, and community mental health clinics. This allows clients to receive the appropriate level of care to address their needs and support their well-being at all times.

LACDMH is glad to be a part of both of these opening ceremonies, and we thank our ongoing partners and collaborators for making these projects – which will help numerous individuals and families throughout L.A. County – a reality.

With the July 16 launch of 988, the easy-to-remember lifeline number will provide vital support to people experiencing or affected by mental health, substance use, and/or suicide-related crises. Americans can now call or text 988 – or chat on their website – to receive free, confidential, 24/7 emotional support as well as referrals to local resources and services for further help.

As the lifeline is built on a network of state- and locally-funded crisis centers, LACDMH has been instrumental in planning and implementing its launch for L.A. County area residents and communities in partnership with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services.

“We are excited for the nationwide roll out of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number, which will make it easier for people experiencing or affected by mental health crises to get immediate lifesaving help to support their safety and well-being. A key component of this new service is the availability of trained psychiatric mobile crisis response teams who can be connected to through the 988 line when necessary,” said LACDMH Acting Director Lisa Wong, Psy.D.

Check out our 988 site to learn more about LACDMH’s role in the number’s launch, as well as additional help line and suicide prevention resources on our website. LACDMH’s Help Line at (800) 854-7771 is also available 24/7 to provide service referrals, emotional support, and mental health resources.

For more details about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s services and resources, visit our 988 page or https://988lifeline.org/. (P.S. please note that the (800) 273-TALK, the 10-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, remains operational and will automatically route callers to the 988 Lifeline.)

Congratulations to the creative youth filmmaker who have been honored by California’s Directing Change Program. This statewide contest invites young actors, animators, directors, and producers to use the film platform to raise awareness for mental health, suicide prevention, and cultural identity issues. Nearly 1,000 films were submitted this year, and we are proud that many winning entries came from our very own L.A. County youth. In total, 51 entries from L.A. County were recognized by this year’s contest with awards and honorable mentions.

A recording of this year’s virtual award ceremony – MC’ed by Queer Eye’s culture expert Karamo Brown – and complete list of winning films are available here. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who participated to bring attention to mental health issues, reduce stigma associated with mental illness, and connect viewers to supportive resources and services in their communities.