Access to Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Services

The Behavioral Health Department operates a toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week, Central Access line to help SLO residents:

  1. Get mental health and substance use disorder services, including assessment
  2. Get mental health and substance use disorder crisis or urgent services
  3. Use the problem resolution and fair hearing processes

Please contact our access line at 1 (800) 838-1381 for information or to schedule an appointment. All services are available in Spanish.

During regular business hours, Central Access staff are available to schedule first appointments for callers.

Services are available in English, Spanish, and by interpreter in other languages spoken in the community.

Who is eligible?

Anyone may use the Central Access Line. SLO residents and SLO Medi-Cal (CenCal) beneficiaries may be eligible for ongoing services.

Is there a charge for this service?

The Central Access line is free of charge. Ongoing services are free for most SLO Medi-Cal (CenCal) beneficiaries. The Behavioral Health Department helps SLO residents who do not have Medi-Cal find resources and may provide some services on a sliding scale basis.

When and where is this service offered?

The Central Access Line is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

FAQS

  1. If you or a person you care about is a danger to self or others or needs medical help, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!
  2. If the danger is not immediate, call 1 (800) 838-1381. You may be connected with our Mental Health Evaluation Team (MHET).
  3. Visit any of our local clinics

If you need help with paperwork, we will provide free help for you.  We work with Language Line Solutions to provide help in any language spoken in SLO County.  We even have a contractor who can assist with American Sign Language (ASL) and have many forms and booklets available in large font.

Ask our reception staff for help.  Two other great sources of help our our Patients' Rights Advocate and our Service Enhancement Team.

For residential substance abuse services:

  1. Call 1 (800) 838-1381
  2. For more information: Substance Abuse Residential Services

"Medical necessity" means that you meet the requirements to receive our services, which are described in  the law. 


For Mental Health Services, the law requires that we meet with you to see if:

  1. You have a mental health diagnosis (condition) that we can treat
  2. Your diagnosis results in significant impairments or risk of having significant impairments
  3. The services we offer needed to help you and are likely to help you

If you do not meet medical necessity for our services, we will help you find services that will help you.  We often refer Medi-Cal (CenCal) beneficiaries to other services in the community through CenCal.

For Drug & Alcohol (Substance Use Disorder) services, the law requires that you have a substance use problem that interferes with your life.

CenCal Health is the the Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan for almost all SLO County residents who have Medi-Cal. If you have a CenCal card, you have Medi-Cal.  For more information about your benefits, contact CenCal customer services:

1 (800) 421-2560
www.CenCalHealth.org/explore-cencal-health

Network Providers are licensed therapists in our community who provide individual, group and family therapy for Medi-Cal (CenCal) beneficiaries. 

IMPORTANT: Call 1 (800) 838-1381 for an assessment to determine if you qualify for Network Provider services

Our Provider List contains information about specialties, service locations and options for cultural and language services. Mental Health Provider List