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    Back to Which Way, L.A.?

    Which Way, L.A.?

    Is Mental Health Care on the Decline?

    After five years of federal oversight because of poor treatment of patients, state hospitals in Atascadero and San Bernardino have been released. But last Friday, federal lawyers sought to extend oversight for the hospitals in Napa and Norwalk, saying they've failed to keep patients safe from harm and even death.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    After five years of federal oversight because of poor treatment of patients, state hospitals in Atascadero and San Bernardino have been released. But last Friday, federal lawyers sought to extend oversight for the hospitals in Napa and Norwalk, saying they've failed to keep patients safe from harm and even death. There are 6300 mental health patients in state hospitals and prisons, and now the Brown Administrations is downsizing, partly to cut costs. That's not all that's happening in the area of mental health. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is giving up psychiatric care, except for emergencies, and is eliminating the training program that's responsible for many of the professionals now working in the Los Angeles area. We hear from the State, County and others.

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    California Overhauls Its Mental Health Department
    1. 0:00Is Mental Health Care on the Decline?You’re reading this
    2. 20:13LA Times Top Editor Quits while Paper Plans More Cuts
    3. 26:13A Divided Congress Gets to Work before Winter Break
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Caitlin Shamberg

      KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Kathy Gaither

      California Department of Mental Health

    • KCRW placeholder

      Marvin Southard

      Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

    • KCRW placeholder

      Randall Hagar

      California Psychiatric Association

      News

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    California Overhauls Its Mental Health Department
    1. 0:00Is Mental Health Care on the Decline?You’re reading this
    2. 20:13LA Times Top Editor Quits while Paper Plans More Cuts
    3. 26:13A Divided Congress Gets to Work before Winter Break
    Back to Which Way, L.A.?