NAMI Contra Costa’s Mental Health Crash Course

What is NAMI CC’s Mental Health Crash Course (MHCC)?

There has long been a need for a program that would provide an orientation for people who find themselves having to interact with the mental health system. People try to navigate the mental health system, hoping to get help for their loved ones, yet they don’t know where to start. A partnership of organizations have come together and produced a program that helps to address this problem. The founding organizations are The Behavioral Health Administration, The Family Justice Center, and NAMI Contra Costa.

What Will You Learn

The partnership between these four organizations are here to be the doorway to the maze of mental health management and advocacy. Some of the topics covered include:

  • Mental Illness
  • How to advocate effectively
  • Social Security, SSI and SSDI
  • The Legal System
  • The 911 process
  • The 5150 Process
  • LPS law

Classes Every Wednesday!

This 90-minute class is held every Wednesday at 6:00 PM on Zoom. Click here to join.
Join the MHCC Class
Contra Costa Health Services Logo

Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services (CCBHS)

With increasing challenges in serving complex populations with multiple disorders, the Behavioral Health Services is a response to the growing desire to have improved client outcomes through a systems approach that emphasizes “any door is the right door.”

CCBHS Info
Family Justice Center Logo

The Family Justice Center (the Center)

A warm and welcoming one-stop Center for people affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, child abuse, and human trafficking. By locating many service providers in one place, the Center helps people in crisis to find hope, safety, and healing through a single door.

the Center Info
NAMI Contra Costa Logo

NAMI Contra Costa (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is here to educate, support, and give hope to people who are impacted by mental illnesses, be they family members, friends, or people with mental illness. They have been providing groups and resourses since 1978 when a group of families met to find ways to improve the lives of their mentally ill loved ones…

NAMI CC Info

Resources

Helpful Websites

While we can help you open the door, there are many other avenues to help you in understanding all that is going on. Here are some online resources that will help you become a better advocate for you loved one.

  • MentalHealth.gov

    MentalHealth.gov provides one-stop access to U.S. government mental health and mental health problems information. MentalHealth.gov aims to help educate the public and provide resources looking for help.

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

    NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

  • TherapyDen.com
    TherapyDen is useful for finding therapists.

  • Psychology Today – Therapists in Contra Costa County, CA
    Psychology Today’s website is a useful tool for finding therapists (such as LMFT, LCSW), psychiatrists, or psychologists.

Know Who To Call

Here are the main phone numbers for Contra Costa Mental Health Services

Have a Loved One in Crisis?

A3 Miles Hall Community Crisis Hub

A3 is Contra Costa County’s innovative approach to provide timely and appropriate mental and behavioral health crisis services to anyone, anywhere, at anytime in the county. It is 24/7 Behavioral Health Crisis Support. A3 provides professional, same day intervention for adults experiencing a mental health crisis.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, call the A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center.

Adults (18 or Over): 1 (844) 844-5544

Youth (Under 18): 1 (877) 441-1089

Call A3 for Adults
Call A3 for Youth

A3 Brochures

A3 Brochure (English)
A3 Brochure (español)

A3 Video

For more information, fill out our contact form.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Address
Tell us a little bit about what you hope to learn from the Mental Health Crash Course, why you are interested in signing up, or any questions you may have about the course.

Download Center for Files

Mental Health Crash Course (MHCC) Flyer
MHCC Flyer
LPS (Laterman-Petris-Short) Conservatorship Chart used by MHCC
LPS File
One Page Summary SAMPLE File
OPS Sample File
Release of Information Sample Form*

*Please contact your health provider for their forms*

Info Disclosure Sample
California Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) Informational Flyer

*Useful in caring for Aging or Older Adults

(AHCD) Informational Flyer