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Depression resources in California

Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, board-certified psychiatrist and the reviewer of this article.

Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA·Updated March 15, 2026·About 5 minutes

State and regional lines here include CalHOPE Warm Line and County crisis lines. California Department of Health Care Services funds and oversees publicly funded mental health services in California. 3 academic medical centers run psychiatry departments: UCLA Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. NAMI's helpline directory lists 21 local peer helplines in California, from NAMI Alameda County to NAMI Westside Los Angeles. Hours and numbers change, so confirm with each organization before relying on them.

If this is a crisis

Call or text 988 anywhere in California, any time. Press 2 for Spanish. TTY users dial 711, then 988. Veterans press 1. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Crisis and warm lines in California

California Department of Health Care Services

Phone: 916-345-7589
Website: www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/Mental-Health.aspx

The state agency that funds and oversees public mental health services in California, including county-run mental health systems.

NAMI peer helplines in California

From NAMI's helpline directory, updated August 24, 2026. Peer support and referrals, not crisis lines.

  • NAMI Alameda County. 510-560-6407, extension 1. Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm Pacific.
  • NAMI Contra Costa County. 925-942-0767. Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 7pm, Friday 8:30am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm Pacific. English, Mandarin, and Spanish. Ages 18 and up.
  • NAMI Glendale. 213-797-0494. 9am to 5pm Pacific. English and Spanish.
  • NAMI Greater Los Angeles County. 818-208-1801. Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm Pacific. English and Spanish.
  • NAMI Kern County. 661-858-3255. Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm Pacific.
  • NAMI Monterey County. 831-422-6264. Regular business hours.
  • NAMI Mt San Jacinto. 951-765-1850. Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm Pacific.
  • NAMI Nevada County. 530-648-0178. Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Pacific.
  • NAMI Pomona Valley. 909-399-0305. Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm Pacific. English and Spanish.
  • NAMI Sacramento. 916-890-5467. Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm Pacific.
  • NAMI San Bernardino Area. 909-600-6264. Every day, 9am to 9pm Pacific.
  • NAMI San Francisco. 415-237-0039. Warmline voicemail, returned within 24 hours.
  • NAMI San Gabriel Valley. 626-365-0365. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm Pacific. Call or text. English, Mandarin, and Spanish.
  • NAMI Santa Clara County. 408-453-0400. Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Pacific.
  • NAMI Santa Cruz County. 831-427-8020. Spanish line 831-205-7074. Voicemail returned within 24 hours.
  • NAMI Shasta County. 530-691-0038. Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Pacific.
  • NAMI Sonoma County. 866-960-6264. Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Pacific.
  • NAMI South Bay Los Angeles County. 310-533-0705. Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm Pacific. Spanish line 310-533-0748.
  • NAMI Temecula Valley. 951-672-2089. Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Pacific.
  • NAMI Tuolumne County. 209-586-9351. 24/7.
  • NAMI Westside Los Angeles. 424-293-0645. Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm Pacific. Spanish line 424-293-0646.

Programs and agencies in California

State behavioral health agencies

NAMI state organization

Source: AnxietyResource.org, California.

Medi-Cal Behavioral Health

Medi-Cal Behavioral Health covers behavioral health care for eligible California residents. Use its provider search to find in-network therapists and psychiatrists. shrinkMD is private pay and does not bill Medicaid.

Academic psychiatry in California

Telepsychiatry in California

A clinician who treats you by video has to hold a California license. shrinkMD is licensed in California and lists care here as coming soon. It is private pay and does not prescribe controlled substances. Other practices and prescribing rules are on the state resources overview.

Disclosure. shrinkMD is run by an affiliate of this site's publisher, and this site's editor, Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, founded it and has a financial interest in it. It's listed as one option, not a recommendation, and this site earns no referral fees.

Frequently asked questions

What crisis and warm lines does California have besides 988?
CalHOPE Warm Line (1-833-317-4673); County crisis lines; 211 California. Warm lines are for talking things through when you're not in immediate danger. In a crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.
Is there a local NAMI helpline in California?
Yes. NAMI's helpline directory lists 21 in California, including NAMI Alameda County (510-560-6407, extension 1), NAMI Contra Costa County (925-942-0767), NAMI Glendale (213-797-0494). They offer peer support and local referrals, not crisis care. For a crisis, call or text 988.

Also useful in California

Last reviewed September 23, 2026. Cite as: Refai, S. (2026, September 23). Depression resources in California. DepressionResource.org. https://depressionresource.org/state-resources/california/

Every clinical page on DepressionResource.org is written in plain language, dated, and reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist against current clinical guidelines. See our editorial standards and medical review process.