Behavioral Health Care

Taking care of your mental health is an important part of your overall health and wellness. If you are feeling sad, anxious, depressed or struggling with substance use, know that you are not alone. Alliance staff can refer you to resources to help. Your primary care provider may also refer you to Beacon Health Options, the company that manages Alliance behavioral health services.

We can help you live better with:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Depression
• Grief
• Stress

If you are having a mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

The Alliance can help children, teens and adults improve their quality of life by connecting them with a supportive mental health professional who can help through:

• Individual or group therapy.
• Visits with a psychiatrist.
• Psychological testing.
• Treatment related to autism (ages 3–20).
• Emotional support during and after pregnancy through the child’s first year of life.

Alliance Medi-Cal members can get a mental health care referral through our partner, Beacon Health Options, who will help you:

• Understand your mental health benefits.
• Find mental health providers in your area.
• Help you make an appointment.

Call Beacon Health Options toll-free access line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• 855-765-9700

Beacon can give you information about behavioral health providers near you who are accepting new patients and can help you schedule an appointment if you want. For more information, visit the Beacon Health Options website.

If you are having a mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

For Substance Use Disorder Services, contact your county’s Behavioral Health department:

• Santa Cruz: 800-952-2335
• Monterey: 888-258-6029
• Merced: 888-334-0163

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

Free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• English: 800-273-TALK (8255)
• Spanish: 888-628-9454

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Crisis Hotline

Education and information about mental illness to help individuals and families find local support and resources.

• Crisis helpline: 800-950-6264
• Local chapter websites:
  • Santa Cruz
  • Monterey
  • Merced

2-1-1

2-1-1 is a free community resource to help people find support and critical need services. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Phone: 2-1-1

County Behavioral Health Departments

Call or visit your county’s Behavioral Health department.­

Emotional Well-Being Support

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.
• Vibrant Emotional Health’s Safe Space website.
• California HOPE (CalHOPE): For communities impacted by a national disaster.
  • 833-317-HOPE (4673)
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Get support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Phone: 799-SAFE (7233)
  • TTY: 800-787-3224
• California Youth Crisis Line: For youths (ages 12-24) and families in crisis. Call or text 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • 800-843-5200
• National Disaster Distress Helpline: For those impacted by natural or human-caused disasters. 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Phone: 800-985-5990
  • Text: TalkWithUs to 66746
• The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Individuals and families affected by eating disorders can access tools and resources on their website.
  • Additionally, NEDA offers toolkits for parents, educators and anyone wanting to learn more about how to support a loved one affected by an eating disorder.