Few things are more difficult than watching a loved one struggle with severe mental illness and not knowing how to help. It is a feeling shared by families in every neighborhood in Los Angeles County, from Baldwin Hills to Long Beach and from Willowbrook to Westwood. Yet too many feel like they are navigating it on their own, and they often feel powerless to do something about it.
Without regular treatment, people with severe mental illnesses can find themselves experiencing homelessness and cycling through emergency rooms and jails to get help. It can be terrifying to know a loved one is going through this, particularly for Black families. The mental health crisis is often treated as a law enforcement issue, yet people with severe mental illness are far more likely to experience the use of force when dealing with police. The result is too many families who worry when the phone rings, afraid of the news it might bring.
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Breaking the cycle begins with reaching out for help. There are programs and services out there to help people with severe mental illness to heal and be treated with dignity and respect.
On December 1, California launched a new, voluntary program called Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment, also known as CARE Court. The program helps adults with untreated schizophrenia and associated psychotic disorders – and their families – get the services they need. Participants in CARE Court can get free counseling, medication, housing options, social services, and other support for up to 12 months, and it can be continued for an additional year if needed.
If you have a loved one dealing with untreated schizophrenia who needs this kind of support, the first step is to file the necessary paperwork, which can be accessed on the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s website. You may also seek assistance from one of the legal self-help centers located throughout the county.
If your loved one is found to be eligible for the program, a team of doctors and other experts will learn more about the issues they are facing and develop a specific plan to help them. This may include providing social services, medication, and/or housing. Rather than depending on hospital emergency rooms when in crisis, CARE Court participants, and the people who care for them, can access services in the community that support their recovery and well-being.1
We know many of our families have had difficult experiences with the justice system. That’s why it is important to stress that CARE Court is a civil court process, it is not a criminal court process. It is a voluntary opportunity for people who are struggling with severe mental illness to get the critical help they need. Participants can opt out of the program at any time, and no one can be forced to make use of any service. CARE Court protects the rights of people who participate by providing them with free legal representation, and they can choose a supporter who can help them navigate the process.
CARE Court is specifically focused on helping those with untreated schizophrenia and their loved ones. But even if a person is not able to participate in CARE Court, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health has many other programs to help people who are dealing with a wide range of issues to heal and find support. Ultimately, our priority is to enable people to recover, live safely in the community and thrive. We want to ensure that there is no wrong door when someone asks for support.
Help is out there. If you or someone you care about is struggling, the first step is to reach out. No one should have to feel powerless to help those they love. No one should have to shudder when the phone rings. Whatever you are dealing with, there are resources available that can open a new path to healing, recovery, and wellness.
To learn more about CARE Court or find other resources for people with mental illness, visit DMH.LAcounty.gov/CareCourt or call our 24/7 Help Line at 1-800-854-7771. You can also call 213-830-0845 to find the nearest LA Superior Court self-help center location near you.
Lisa H. Wong is the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Martin Jones, Jr., L.C.S.W., is the countywide chief of the CARE Program.
