Behavioral Health Department

As an integrated component of the County Health Care system, to promote resiliency, recovery, and  hope for our clients and their families by providing accessible, culturally competent, age-appropriate, cost-effective, outcome driven, client and family-focused services.

 

Through collaboration between the Behavioral Health Department, clients, family members, community-based and other public/private partners, we envision a future when all persons with mental health and substance abuse challenges are able to access effective treatment and supports so that mental illness and addictive disorders may be prevented, detected early and recovery achieved.

 

Vision:  All individuals with mental health and/or alcohol and drug issues are healthy and able to live full and productive lives.

 

Mission:  Provide access to the highest quality mental health and alcohol and drug prevention, intervention and treatment services as an integrated part of the Ventura County Health Care system by working collaboratively with other agencies, consumers, families, provider and communities.

 

Individuals needing mental health services or those experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 24/7 at 866-998-2243.

 


Story of the Mental Health Bell

Mental Health America (MHA) "was established in 1909 by former psychiatric patient Clifford W. Beers. During his stays in public and private institutions, Beers witnessed and was subjected to horrible abuse. From these experiences, Beers set into motion a reform movement that took shape as 'Mental Health America.'"


In 1950  MHA (then the National Mental Health Association) chose a bell as their symbol. Volunteers collected metal restraints from hundreds of mental hospitals across the country and shipped them to the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1956 the restraints were cast into a 300-pound bell. Nothing could proclaim hope for those who have mental illness more dramatically than a bell cast from the actual chains and shackles used as restraints for persons with mental illnesses.


"Now the symbol of Mental Health America, the 300-pound Bell serves as a powerful reminder that the invisible chains of misunderstanding and discrimination continue to bind people with mental illnesses. Today, the Mental Health Bell rings out hope for improving mental health and achieving victory over mental illnesses."


The inscription on the bell reads:

“Cast from the shackles which bound them, this Bell shall ring out for the mentally ill and victory over Mental Illness.”


The Bell is displayed at MHA's Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.




How Do I?

 

How do I learn more about alcohol and other drug programs?
County Operated Outpatient Treatment Centers - Provide a wide range of non-residential counseling services for both adolescents (12 years of age to 18) and adults. Click here for contact information about any of these services 

I need mental health services for adults
Ventura County Behavioral Health provides outpatient mental health services to adults, 18 to 65, at clinics located throughout Ventura County.

Each clinic is composed of a multidisciplinary staff that provide a wide array of services designed to treat severe symptoms of mental illness and assist individuals and their families in living successfully in the community. Each clinic provides psychiatric assessment, medication services, psychological testing, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, rehabilitation services, and case management services. 

Click here for a list of Behavioral Health Clinic locations.

My child is in need of mental health services
Youth and Family services provide integrated mental health services by working with the Community and with other agencies such as Special Education, Human Services Agency/Children Family Services, Juvenile Justice system and Children's Medical Services. Comprehensive services include: psychiatric assessment and treatment, case management, outpatient psychotherapy, psychological testing, school based services, home based services, acute care of crisis and hospitalization. All of the programs strive to insure continuity of appropriate care in the least restrictive environment and prevent out of home placement 

Youth and Family services can be obtained by calling 1-866-998-2243. For more information about these services click here.

I’m not sure who to talk to about mental health services
Entry to Ventura County Mental Health Services is facilitated through the Screening, Triage, Assessment and Referral (S.T.A.R.) Program. When the S.T.A.R. program is contacted, staff will talk with the individual to clarify the extent of their mental health needs as well as the services that will best serve them. Individuals whose mental health needs will be best served by county mental health services will be scheduled for an initial psycho-social assessment with a Behavioral Health Clinician. Individuals, whose needs will be better served by other community resources, will be provided with appropriate referrals. To reach the STAR Program call 1-866-998-2243.




Health Care Agency
2323 Knoll Drive
Ventura, CA 93003
805-677-5110		 Ambulatory Care-Medical Clinics
2323 Knoll Drive 
Ventura, CA 93003
805-677-5223		 Behavioral Health
1911 Williams Drive
Oxnard, CA 93036
805-981-6830		 Public Health
2240 E. Gonzales Road
Oxnard, CA 93036
805-981-5101
Santa Paula Hospital
825 N. Tenth Street
Santa Paula, CA 93061
805-933-8600		 Ventura County Medical Center
3291 Loma Vista Road
Ventura, CA 93003
805-652-6000		 HCA Human Resources
2323 Knoll Drive 
Ventura, CA 93003
805-677-5184		 Ventura County Health Care Plan
2220 E. Gonzales Road
Suite 210 B
Oxnard, CA 93036
805-981-5050
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