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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.

 


The Story of the Mental Health Bell

 

During World War II, future leaders of the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) worked in state mental hospitals. There, they witnessed the deplorable and inhumane treatment of patients with mental illnesses who were chained to the hospital walls. This experience inspired the men to devote their time to improving the lives of all those who suffer from mental illnesses, and changing the way America thinks about persons with mental illnesses.

In 1950 the NMHA chose a bell as their symbol.  Two years later, volunteers at the Mental Health Association’s National Headquarters in New York collected the metal restraints from hundreds of mental hospitals across the country and piled them in the building’s lobby.  These restraints were then shipped to the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland, where in 1953 they were dropped into a crucible and 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.

To many, a bell symbolizes freedom and liberty.  For the 40 million Americans affected by mental illnesses, the bell serves as a reminder of the more insidious chains of stigma and discrimination that still bind people with mental illnesses.

Today the Mental Health Bell stands as a national symbol for the mental health movement.

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 the NMHA’s Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

 

 


Announcements

 

May is Mental Health Month Conference 

 

The Ventura County Behavioral Health Department invites you to the annual May is Mental Health Month conference, continuing our efforts in promoting mental health awareness.  Please join other mental health professionals, consumers, family members and stakeholders as we explore the integration of mindfulness and spirituality with mental health services.  For more details and to register for the conference, please click on the brochure link below.

 

Date:  Thursday, May 24, 2012

Location:  Ventura Beach Marriott

                   2055 East Harbor Blvd

                   Ventura, CA 

 

May is Mental Health Month Conference Brochure

 


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 

How do I attend a driving under the influence program?
Drinking Driver Programs - Services are for persons arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), and are currently provided at four separate locations in Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. For more information about these services click on these links:

First Offender Program
Multiple Offender Program

I was arrested for a drug-related offense, where do I go for treatment?
Proposition 36 - Services are provided for persons convicted of a nonviolent drug possession offense. For more information about these services click here.

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. 

In addition, the outpatient programs assist individuals in obtaining employment, accessing medical care, and accessing treatment for addictions, accessing socialization, and accessing available safe and secure housing. To Obtain Services Call: 1-866-998-2243

For Behavioral Health Clinic locations click here.

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.

What other community resources are available?
Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug resources can be found 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
2240 E. Gonzales Road,
Suite 210 B
Ventura, CA 93036
(805) 981-5050
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