As the special series on the podcast program continues, this is the final episode exploring Peer Resource Centers at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH). We are visiting with Jaime Gomez on the Eastside of the City, a Supervising Community Health Worker who relishes that his programming specializes in reaching out into neighborhoods. In other words, instead of being located at a particular building, Jaime and his team use parks, libraries and schools to connect with individuals, families and the elderly who are in need but may never visit a traditional office for mental health services. In their unique way of being accessible and available, Jaime explains how they have an opportunity to help people where they are, and make them realize that having emotional difficulties for themselves or a family member are part of being human. He feels this approach is a way to break the stigma of mental illness and encourage people to receive help. In this episode, listeners around the world will wish that they could be at the place wherever Jaime and his team organize what they call, COFFEE WITH A SIDE OF HEALING, a relaxing and innovative way of encountering mental health services.
The LACDMH 24/7 access number for help is 1-800-854-7771
The National Suicide Crisis Line is #988
