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Orange County Expands Mental Health Services with 24-Hour Warmline
Call 714-991-6412 to Get Mental Health Support
(May 30, 2023) – Orange County is expanding its warmline services to provide 24-hour live support to anyone in need of help with a mental health or substance abuse challenge.
On Tuesday, May 23, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the expansion of a toll-free behavioral health warmline service operated by NAMI Orange County.
“Anyone – no matter your race, gender or socio-economic status – can struggle with feelings of depression or isolation,” said Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do. “Orange County’s warmline services offer a friendly ear to listen and help anyone struggling with a mental health or substance abuse challenge.”
To get help, Orange County residents can:
• Call or Text: 714-991-6412
• Toll-Free: 877-910-9276
• Live Chat: at namioc.org
Initially created as a volunteer Support Line service, the NAMI Warmline launched in 2010 to provide emotional support and connect callers to community resources in Orange County. Unlike a hotline, which offers support for those in immediate crisis, warmlines provide early intervention with emotional support that can prevent a crisis and a more costly 911 call or ER visit.
In 2020, the County contracted with NAMI Orange County to establish a peer-based, toll-free, 24-hour, non-crisis warmline service available to anyone needing behavioral health support. Since its inception, the call volume has increased by 20 percent yearly.
Tuesday’s board approval will significantly increase funding to allow on-demand peer access to services via telephone, chat, and text while eliminating the voicemail feature. Under the upgraded service, all calls will be routed to a live person rather than an individual leaving a voicemail and waiting to hear back. Support will also be offered in many languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Farsi.
“Orange County is one of the most diverse communities in the country,” said Supervisor Do. “We are providing help and support in multiple languages to ensure that everyone in Orange County gets early intervention and support.”
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Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do represents the First District communities of Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, La Palma, Seal Beach, Westminster, and the Unincorporated Communities of Midway City and Rossmoor. As Supervisor, Andrew Do has reformed Orange County’s mental health services, expanded access to health care, and led efforts to combat homelessness.
