Behavioral Health
Behavioral health continues to be a key priority in the City's efforts to address and prevent homelessness, support children and youth, and ensure the wellbeing of our entire community. In 2023, the City conducted a comprehensive community engagement process to understand the key behavioral health needs in Santa Monica and develop recommendations. This process identified adult crisis care and youth behavioral health services as two of the most pressing needs in our city.
On February 25, 2025, City staff and consultants from Capstone Solutions Consulting Group presented findings and recommendations to City Council. At this meeting, Council approved additional funding to expand youth mental health and substance use services and approved a decentralized expansion of adult crisis services (i.e., building out services at different sites as opportunities become available). Read the staff report , community engagement report (English and Spanish ), and adult crisis services report for more details.
As part of the next phase of this effort, Human Services Division staff will work with local providers to get the expanded Council-approved youth services up and running in FY2025-26. Staff will also continue to explore opportunities to advance adult crisis services.
In a separate but related effort, Santa Monica is also collaborating with the county of Los Angeles and Westside Cities Council of Governments on an implementation strategy for a westside regional behavioral health adult crisis facility.
We will continue to share updates as these processes continue - stay tuned!
"Behavioral health” includes the emotional, psychological, and social factors that affect a person’s wellbeing and can be addressed by preventing, diagnosing, and treating mental health and substance use challenges.