A psychiatric crisis is a non-life threatening situation in which an individual is exhibiting extreme mental health symptoms as result of either:

1. a mental health disorder
2. a severe substance use disorder* or;
3. a co-occurring mental health disorder and a severe substance use disorder

*New/expanded criteria to meet grave disability under SB 43.

If you believe someone is experiencing a non-life threatening psychiatric emergency, please call the 24/7 emergency psychiatric crisis line at (800) 838-1381.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a life threatening emergency, call 911. 

After calling the emergency psychiatric crisis line at (800) 838-1381, the Mental Health Evaluation Team will dispatch professionally licensed staff to evaluate the individual for inpatient psychiatric care as appropriate. 

The Mental Health Evaluation Team may recommend that you assist the individual in going to your nearest Emergency Department for a medical clearance. 

The hospital will then contact the Mental Health Evaluation Team after the individual has received medical clearance to provide the evaluation for inpatient psychiatric care.

It is often important that individuals receive a medical clearance prior to receiving a mental health evaluation for inpatient psychiatric treatment for the following reasons:

• The Psychiatric Health Facility is free standing, with no medical support attached to the facility or services provided. 
• Medical support is provided by local hospitals only. 

Call (800) 838-1381 and the Managed Care staff will assist you in obtaining an urgent appointment with County Outpatient Mental Health Services, or assist you in seeking other community resources with your insurance provider.

Only persons diagnosed with major mental disorders are to be treated in Psychiatric Health Facilities (PHF).

The following regulatory criteria describe persons who may not be legally retained in the PHF:

1. PHF shall not admit and treat patients with the primary diagnosis of an eating disorder.
2. PHF shall not admit and treat patients when the primary diagnosis is chemical dependency, chemical intoxication or chemical withdrawal. 
3. Individuals with major mental disorders shall not be admitted to PHF if their treatment requires medical interventions beyond the level appropriate to a psychiatric health facility including:
   1. Detoxification from substance abuse
   2. Treatment for substance induced delirium. 
4. Persons with a communicable disease that is required to be reported (per 17 CCR 2500), shall not be admitted to the facility. Examples include active treatment resistant infections such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Tuberculosis, COVID-19, etc.
   1. A patient who after admission is diagnosed as having a reportable communicable disease or being a carrier shall be promptly transferred to a facility capable of accommodating such patients.
5. Persons with non-reportable disease or injury for whom the facility cannot provide adequate medical care. Examples include medical conditions such as some types of Diabetes, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, patients requiring supplemental oxygen, etc..
   (22 CCR  77135)
   1. Psychiatric health facilities shall arrange alternative treatment settings for patients with injuries or diseases that require inpatient medical care. When a patient's particular injury or disease would ordinarily be treated on an outpatient basis absent the mental disorder, the facility may admit the patient only if the facility has appropriate policies, procedures and resources to ensure the safety of other patients and staff. 

If you are not in a crisis and need emotional support, please call the Central Coast Hotline: 1 (800) 783-0607
The Central Coast Hotline is 24/7 mental health crisis line that provides immediate emotional support for you or someone else.
 

The County of San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Psychiatric Care Facility (PHF) is the only such facility within San Luis Obispo County. The nearest alternative 5150 facilities are located in Salinas, Santa Barbara, and Fresno/Bakersfield. 

Due to frequent licensed capacity limits, SLO County individuals are often transferred directly from our area hospitals to out-of-County alternative inpatient psychiatric treatment facilities for treatment. 

In addition to the PHF, the Crisis Stabilization Unit is a 24-hour voluntary residential care facility that is in place for crisis intervention, assessment, evaluation, collateral, medication support services, therapy, peer support, etc. to avoid unnecessary hospitalization and incarceration while improving wellness for individuals with mental health disorders and their families.

Yes. Patients have a right to refuse medication unless there is a court order for medication or the patient is displaying imminently dangerous behavior toward self or others, and the doctor orders involuntary medication (Wellfare and Institutions code 5325.2).

There are subsequent fourteen (14) day legal holds that may be enacted if the individual continues to meet medical necessity criteria. All additional holds require judicial review. Patients have rights and are provided legal representation by the Public Defenders Office. 

Patients also have access to a Patients’ Rights Advocate.  The Patients’ Rights Advocate may be reached at (805) 781-4738.