Behavioral Health

Mental Health Awareness Month Events

Wednesday, May 3,
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.		Sign Making Party
All supplies provided, come create a sign for the “Take Action for Mental Health Walk!"
Hope Center, 2933 H St., Eureka
Friday, May 5,
10 a.m. to noon		Sign Making Party 
All supplies provided, come create a sign for the “Take Action for Mental Health Walk!"
TAY Center 433 M St., Eureka
Tuesday, May 9,
10 a.m. to noon		Be Sensitive, Be Brave for Mental Health & Mental Illness 
A culturally responsive workshop To learn more and register for this free, virtual training, visit: bsbb4mhmay9.eventbrite.com.
Tuesday, May 16,
9 a.m.		Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Board of Supervisors Chambers, 825 Fifth St., Eureka.
Tuesday, May 16, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Take Action for Mental Health Walk
Meet at the Hope Center, 2933 H St., Eureka and walk to the Humboldt County Courthouse and back.
Wednesday, May 17, 10-11:30 a.m.
VA S.A.V.E
Public Health’s Suicide and Violence Prevention Program has partnered with the Office of Veterans Affairs to host a veteran-focused suicide prevention training. Learn more and register for the VA SAVE Zoom event.
Friday, May 19,
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.		Wellness and Connection Barbecue 
Hamburgers, hotdogs and a vegetarian option will be provided Jefferson Community Park, 1000 B St., Eureka
Friday, May 19,
1 to 2 p.m.		Ropes for Hope 
Learn the basics of jump rope. Meet at the basketball court at Jefferson Community Park during the barbecue. Transition-Age Youth, contact Stacey F. at 707-273-8927 to RSVP and request assistance with transportation if needed. Ropes and refreshments will be provided.
Wednesday, May 24,
noon to 3 p.m.
BBQ & Open House
Humboldt County Programs for Recovery, Adolescent Treatment Program, Dual Recovery Program and Behavioral Health Counseling Clinic invite you to visit our new location at 134 D St., Old Town Eureka. For more information, call 707-441-3702.

Humboldt County Behavioral Health is here to support you.

Community Behavioral Health support for COVID

Professional staff are available if you are feeling anxious, worried, or depressed related to the current health crisis and need someone to talk to. It can be even more challenging with the direction to shelter in place, leaving people feeling socially isolated. Please reach out for support Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling 1-707-268-2999.

CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19

To ensure the health and safety of our consumers and staff, we are asking the public to follow CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19. If you are in need of Behavioral Health Services, please call for an appointment prior to coming to a clinic. For appointments call 1-707-268-2900 or 1-888-849-5728. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please use our 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-707-445-7715.

How to manage your mental health and cope during COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The outbreak of infectious diseases such as the recent COVID-19 (Coronavirus) can be a stressful time for individuals and communities. It is not uncommon to feel anxious or worried while listening, reading or watching the news.  While it's necessary to keep up-to-date and make changes to daily life in order to help control the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the constant news cycle coupled with social distancing measures can have a real impact on mental health. It's important during times like these to monitor your own physical and mental health, as well as safely stay connected to your community. Know the signs of stress and when and how to seek help for yourself, as well as loved ones. Here are a few resources, credible information sources, and self-care tools for our mental health and wellbeing.

Resources for Families, Parents & Caregivers:

Relevant and informative resources:

Online or phone supports:

Emotional Support and Wellness:

We know that human connection is one of the most critical protective factors for good mental health. But how can we stay in connection while still following medical guidance to limit your exposure to others?  Community isn't just about proximity, it's first and foremost a mindset about who we consider to be “our own.” In the face of social distancing, remember that we all need one another - maybe more than ever - to get through difficult times like these. Staying emotionally connected as a community even if we temporarily become more physically isolated is critical to all our mental health.  Learn more at Community Connections in Times of Physical Separation.

Mindfulness Meditation and Yoga:

Behavioral Health programs and services

Behavioral Health programs and services are committed to the principles of recovery, wellness, and discovery, which states that every client has the ability to:

  • Determine their own treatment course
  • Define what "purposeful activity" means to them
  • Determine how and in what way they wish to advance their own independence
  • Develop the interest and skills to determine how best to advantage "failure"
  • Develop their own defined family network
  • Advance their abilities in developing strong and lasting relationships of their choice.

Eligibility for Services

Humboldt County Behavioral Health (BH) contracts with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to provide specialty mental health services (or SMHS) for Humboldt County residents with Medi-Cal. DHCS defines the criteria needed to access SMHS as well as what types of services would be considered medically necessary. BH screens all people who request services for these eligibility criteria to determine if we are the best fit to serve their needs or if a referral to another provider would be more appropriate. 


Adults: For those aged 21 and older to be eligible for services, a person must have the need for SMHS as indicated by a significant impairment (as defined as distress, disability, or dysfunction in a significant area of life functioning, such as family, school, work or community) or a reasonable probability of significant deterioration in an important area of life functioning due to a diagnosed or suspected mental health disorder. The individual must experience a diagnosed or suspected mental health disorder. Specialty mental health services are considered medically necessary for adults when it is reasonable and necessary to protect life, to prevent significant illness or significant disability or to alleviate severe pain. 

Children and Youth: For those aged 20 and younger to be eligible for services, a person must have the need for SMHS as indicated by experience of a significant impairment, a reasonable probability of significant deterioration in an important area of life functioning, a reasonable probability of not progressing developmentally as appropriate or a need for the service all of which must be due to a diagnosed or suspected mental health disorder or significant trauma. A youth may also be eligible if they have experience of trauma, involvement in the child welfare system, juvenile justice involvement or are experiencing homelessness. SMHS are considered medically necessary for youth and children when they seek to correct or make better a mental illness or condition which may be discovered by a screening service, are curative or restorative and are able to sustain, support, improve or make more tolerable a mental health condition. 

Some of the symptoms that may qualify a person for SMHS include, but are not limited to, severely depressed mood, suicide attempts, self-harm, psychiatric hospitalizations, hallucinations, inability to work or go to school, difficulty maintaining housing and/or an inability to meet daily needs for long periods of time.

Evidence Based Practices (EBP) are used to ensure the best treatment outcomes.

As a National Health Service Corps site, we promise to:

• Serve all patients
• Offer discounted fees for patients who qualify
• Not deny services based on a person’s:

  • Race
  • Color
  • Sex
  • Age
  • National origin
  • Disability
  • Religion
  • Gender identity
  • Sexual orientation
  • Inability to pay.

• Accept insurance, including:

  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

This facility is a member of the National Health Service Corps: NHSC.hrsa.gov.