Didi Hirsch; a valuable community asset

Judy Miller

NOTE: This is the ninth in a series of Culver City Progress Blog articles highlighting local community groups doing good work in Culver City.

Located in Culver City, Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center is a non-profit agency which has been transforming lives since 1942.  Their mission is to provide services to children and adults experiencing emotional and substance abuse challenges.  The agency provides a wide range of services to help people lead successful, productive lives and continues its ongoing commitment to erasing the stigma of mental illness.

Last year, the agency provided service in 11 centers throughout LA County and helped almost 75,000 children and adults.  Programs include outpatient treatment, employment assistance and wellness centers.  They partner with 65 schools in 13 districts providing student and parent counseling on site. Didi Hirsch also provides short term private counseling to individuals and families.

The agency was the first in the country to have a 24-hour suicide prevention crisis line using community volunteers. The Suicide Prevention Center is recognized as having developed the telephone crisis intervention model now used by most crisis centers around the world.  Providing service in both English and Spanish, the Crisis Line can be reached at 1800 273 TALK (8255). This service is not only for people who are depressed; but is also available to family members or friends who seek guidance in helping someone they care about.

It is estimated that in the U.S. someone takes their life every 15 minutes. Since 1980, as part of a national suicide prevention initiative, Didi Hirsch has also provided a program called “Survivors After Suicide.” Surviving the suicide of a family member or friend is one of the most traumatic experiences a person may ever experience.  Whether the loss is recent or past, professional therapists help people find a healing path.

Didi Hirsch is organizing a 5K Walk/Run for Suicide Prevention on September 23, 2012, starting from La Tijera Blvd and 88^th St. For details on time and location, please contact Didi Hirsch at 310.751.5420 or email tmarkowitz@DidiHirsch.org

Two of the agency’s case histories exemplify how Didi Hirsch works:

After losing her job, her car and her home, Angela, 26, was finally ready to kick her 9-year addiction to methamphetamine.  But she couldn’t do it alone.  She checked herself into a substance abuse treatment program but was so distressed by her separation from her 5 year old daughter that she left the program after just 2 nights.  Then she heard about Didi Hirsch’s outpatient substance abuse program.  Six months later, Angela was completely sober for the first time since she was 14 years old.  

Roger was a part-time longshoreman whose dreams had become derailed by mental illness.  He came to Didi Hirsch’s Excelsior House which provides residents an opportunity to live in a 28-day program, where he received counseling and learned better coping skills.  With the help and support of staff, he was able to go back to work and continue to receive treatment.

Clients who receive intensive mental health services at Didi Hirsch have seen big improvements in their lives.  Hospitalizations have decreased buy 55%, homelessness by 47% and incarcerations by 21%. 

Culver City is fortunate to have Didi Hirsch in our midst, serving the LA community for over 70 years.

What you can do to help:

·         Join the Didi Hirsch 5K Walk/Run for Suicide Prevention on

      September 23, 2012

              La Tijera Blvd. @ 88^th St. For details contact Didi Hirsch at 310.751.5420

·         Make a contribution to continue the work of this agency

·         Donate your car, boat, RV or motorcycle

·         Volunteer!

The DidiHirsch CommunityMental HealthCenter is located at 4760 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230

Judy Miller is a co-founder of the Culver City Downtown Neighborhood Association and is a licensed clinical social worker