Immediate Mental Health Support

There are treatment centers that will take her, but it's a tough thing they are also full. One is in ventura, one in Santa Maria/Lompoc area. That I know of ( but I cannot recall the names! I'm sorry) . We called a cab for the last self destructor at a hotel I help with. They took him all the way there, but I don't know the payment circumstances etc. Good luck, that's a tough situation all around

Take her to the ER. They have built in health services and can direct her to the right place. 5 East is a great mental health facility inside Cottage. They're often full, but mental health advocates can help direct to another place.

Where are you - city, county? Law enforcement should have a response unit, or at least contact with the Crisis Team to be able to assist.

I'm really not sure maybe CARES they are called out a lot I hear these calls all the time now it seems like our country is going over the edge. When I needed help my friend Hopper called the police and they took me to Cottage that was many years ago a few days in Cottage helped me...I hope your friend gets the help she needs.

I second what GCAMP suggested - ER (insist an ambulance take her if she refuses to get into the car willingly. Actually, probably best this way anyway, for their own safety.) Poor souls. Breaks my heart.

If possible, they should find out what medication she is supposed to be taking and whether she has stopped the medication or it has stopped working. If she is not on medication she needs to start immediately, as they can have an effect within a few days. Risperidone is highly effective for most people. Take her directly to the ER, call an ambulance yourself- no need to expect the police to do it. In the ER she will be assigned a social worker who will work with the physicians and psych facilities to find a bed for her. They can give her a sedative to help her rest during the long wait for a psych bed and the psychiatrist on call can start the antipsychotic medication. The social worker is the one who will be most helpful. Good luck, it will get better once she's properly medicated

Please call the County of Santa Barbara Behavioral Wellness Access Line at (888) 868-1649. They may be able to point you in the right direction.