Official Louisiana State Websites use .la.gov 
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 
Mental Health Services
The Office of Behavioral Health provides statewide authority and accountability for all behavioral healthcare, including mental health treatment services, for Louisiana residents. This includes coordinating between other agencies and partnering entities that deliver and manage components of care for the behavioral health population, both insured and uninsured (e.g., Medicaid, human services districts/authorities, etc.). Legislation mandates that the local administration of the Louisiana behavioral healthcare system, including both community and residential services, is operated by independent Local Governing Entities (LGEs). The Office of Behavioral Health maintains two state psychiatric hospitals at Central Louisiana State Hospital (CLSH) in Pineville and the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System (ELMHS) in Jackson.
Mental health treatment services are available in your region. | Regional Map
Mental Health Treatment
Acute Units
The Office of Behavioral Health contracts with various private and public hospital acute units to provide psychiatric, psychosocial, and medical services in compliance with all licensing and accreditation standards to meet individual patient needs for adults, children, and adolescents in an inpatient treatment environment that is less restrictive, shorter term, and more cost effective than long-term hospitalization. These units are closely linked to community-based services and support networks so patients can return to their homes faster and with greater continuity of care.
Behavioral Health Clinics
LGEs treat adults and children with serious mental illnesses or emotional disturbances through clinics throughout the state. These behavioral health clinics provide a variety of services, including screening and assessment, emergency crisis care, individual evaluation and treatment, medication administration and management, clinical casework services, specialized services for children and adolescents, specialized criminal justice services, specialized services for the elderly, and pharmacy services. Everyone gets help, no matter if they can pay or not.
Early Serious Mental Illness/First Episode Psychosis Treatment
OBH supports programs that provide coordinated specialty care treatment to both youth and adults who may be experiencing early serious mental illness or the first episode of psychosis. These programs are administered by several LGEs and the Tulane University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences through their Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic-New Orleans (EPIC NOLA).
Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities
OBH operates two state psychiatric facilities that provide mental health evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation services for adults who have severe and persistent mental illnesses. The hospital program provides care to individuals in need of adult civil intermediate (90-180 days) treatment, adult acute (less than 30 days) treatment, adult forensic services, and adult competency restoration. Community-based group home placements are available through grants and contract providers. The OBH Hospital Program currently consists of:
My Choice Louisiana
Through My Choice Louisiana, the State will provide transition planning and support, as well as screening and evaluations to all individuals with serious mental illness who are currently living in a nursing facility. For individuals who may face nursing home placement, the State will look to improve on diverting these individuals to appropriate community-based services.
Mental Health Rehabilitation
Mental health rehabilitation, or MHR, is one behavioral health provider type within the Medicaid system. Two of the services include community psychiatric supportive treatment (CPST) and psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR), which are home and community-based services.
Mental Health Forms
- Advance Directive for Mental Health Treatment
- Listing of Available Mental Health Law Forms:
- OBH 1 Physician’s Emergency Certificate
- OBH 1A Psychologist’s Emergency Certificate
- OBH 2 Coroner’s Emergency Certificate
- OBH 4 Acknowledgement of Notification of Rights
- OBH 6 Transfer
- OBH 7 Formal Voluntary Admission
- OBH 8 Non-Contested Admission
- OBH 9 Physician’s Report to Court
- OBH 10 Petition for Judicial Commitment – Non-Legal
- OBH 11 Petition for Judicial Commitment – Hospital/Facility
- OBH 13 Notification to Family of Emergency Certificate
- OBH 14 Request for Release – Formal Voluntary Admission
- OBH 15 Discharge Procedures (2 pages)
- OBH 16 Rights of Patient (LA R.S. 28 Sec. 171) (2 pages)
- OBH 16A Rights of Minor Patients
- OBH 19 Request for Protective Custody
- OBH 20 Order for Protective Custody
- OBH 143 Physician’s Certificate for Minors (2 pages)
Resources
- Class Action Notice - A.A. v. Abraham »
- Learn more about Louisiana Behavioral Health Advisory Council
- Learn more about the Juvenile Competency Restoration program
- Learn more about the SR260 Workgroup