Posts by Mental Health America of Los Angeles
‘TAY Has Helped Me Come Out of My Shell’
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Los Angeles County, Julian attended weekly group meetings at the Transition-Age Youth Academy in Long Beach. Every Friday, he and the other TAY students would come together to enjoy food, talk about community issues, and play games. Every so often they would enjoy outings to area attractions like Knotts Berry…
Read MoreReinventing Mental Health Services in a Pandemic
The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the mental health of our entire community. It’s hard to find anyone who does not feel some degree of anxiety and unease. But for those dealing with mental health concerns before the crisis, and those most vulnerable and at risk, there are special challenges to meet the need. Read more in…
Read MoreCoronavirus Brings Toughest Mental Health Month In Memory
May has been Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949. May 2020 may well be the most stressful in the last 71 years, Long Beach experts say. “It’s impacting the whole population,” Christina Miller, president and CEO of Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA), said. She was speaking of the coronavirus pandemic and the forced…
Read MoreWith Pandemic Heaped on Crisis, Homeless Services Are in Triage Mode
About 10 people live in the Dominguez Gap homeless camp along the edge of North Long Beach. Some are older—one woman just turned 81—and many have been there for years. “They’re a real community,” says Laurie Ramey, a homeless-outreach director. “They really look out for each other.” So when one man at the camp came…
Read MoreTop Women Leaders in Health Care
MHALA’s President & CEO, Dr. Christina Miller, is one of Los Angeles Business Journal’s women health care leaders, chosen for their “exceptional stewardship and achievement.” Continue reading
Read More‘My Job Brought Back the Fire in My Heart’
Jordan enlisted in the U.S. Army right out of high school, serving as a supply specialist. While in the military, he learned “the value of bonds.” “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, the color of your skin … you’re out there with people who have your back — and you have their…
Read More‘This Is Where My Miracle Happened’
My name is Rennie and there’s not enough time in a day to tell you of all the trauma, poor decisions, impaired judgement, all the different things that set my life on a self-destructive path from age 8 to age 47. I have been all over this country wreaking havoc and running through people’s lives…
Read More‘I Took My Weakness and Made it a Strength’
“I’m an immigrant. I came here when I was seven and was raised by a single mom.” Karen’s mom was abusive when she was growing up. Her family would occasionally intervene but most of the time it was just the two of them. One day, her mother hit her as her neighbor watched. Karen was…
Read More2 Long Beach Nonprofits Receive Thousands in Grant Funding
Two local nonprofits recently received grants from Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center to expand their services. Mental Health America of Los Angeles – which provides comprehensive mental health, housing and social services to low-income housing communities – received $86,000. Century Villages at Cabrillo received $35,000 for its Pathways to Health program, which works…
Read More‘MHALA Loved Me Back to Life’
It was the promise of a hot shower that convinced Roxanne to visit Mental Health America of Los Angeles. Roxanne was a copywriter at a radio station before her world came slowly crashing down. A back injury, depression after a failed marriage, and lapsed health insurance banded together to pull her into a downward spiral.…
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