Full Notification

Mental Health Challenges - What can you do?  There is help available!

At about 9:00 p.m. on November 24, 2016, Sheriff’s deputies assigned to San Dimas Station searched for and located a suicidal man.  In this instance, distraught family members advised us that a 45 year old man was armed with a pistol and threatening to shoot himself.  Deputies arrived on scene within a few minutes, but the man fled before deputies arrived.  The man’s brother was able to disarm him before he left, but all were concerned that he might attempt suicide by some other means.  Deputies searched for the man and located his vehicle about a mile and a half away.  Deputies searched the area and located the man in a nearby house.  He was safely detained and transported to a facility for treatment.  The man and his family commended the deputies for their efforts, and we’re grateful this incident had a positive outcome.    

Families should know that resources are available to assist with mental illness, and that saving lives is the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s top priority.  We would like to remind you that “LASD Cares,” and provide resources for families seeking help with mental illness.  There’s a helpful brochure on the LASD website, titled, “LASD Cares.”  (http://bit.ly/2fNnvbv)  Here you will find critical advice and resources for dealing with mental illness. 
 
Here are some quick and important tips:
Life Threatening Emergency – Dial 9-1-1
Call 24 hours a day in case of an extreme emergency if you, your loved one and/or the public are facing an imminent threat.
 
Urgent Questions – call the DMH ACCESS Center (800) 854-7771
Call:  24 hours a day
 
If you need help with a situation that seems to be getting worse, but hasn’t turned into an emergency, call the DMH Access Center.  They will discuss resources and if necessary, may send a Psychiatric Mobile Response team to your location to help evaluate the situation.  However, the Response Team won’t come out right away, it may take a few hours, so if the situation changes to an emergency, dial 911 immediately.
 
Start a Caregiver Plan – Dial 2-1-1
Call:  24 hours a day
 
211 LA County provides access to comprehensive social services and disaster support for Los Angeles County residents.  They work closely with the DMH ACCESS Center on Mental health resources.  They can help you with questions about your loved one’s behavior such as suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, or what to do when your loved one becomes gravely disabled.  After a series of telephone prompts, you will speak to a live person.
 
Who Qualifies for a ‘5150’ Hold?
 
Under certain circumstances, officers can place an at-risk person on a 5150 Hold.  This means a mentally ill person is held for at least 72-hours at a hospital while being evaluated.  This can only be done when (1) the individual presents a danger to himself or others, or (2) a person is so disabled that he or she cannot take care of daily life activities (for example, has stopped eating for days and won’t come out of the bedroom).  However, this is a very difficult standard to meet.  In most cases, the LASD cannot take your loved one to a hospital against his or her will.
 
Crisis Lines:
 
Suicide Prevention and Survivor Hotline:
(24 hours/7 days)
 
Calling from Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial Counties:

• English:  877-727-4747
• Spanish: 888-628-9454

Calling from outside the above counties:

• (310) 564-6600

Substance Abuse Hotline:
(800) 564-6600
 
Veterans Services:
(877) 452-8387
 
National Alliance on Mental Illness:
(800) 950-NAMI (6264)
www.nami.org
 
Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center:
(323) 993-7400