Mental Health Acronyms
A Quick Guide
Learning all the mental health lingo takes some time and will be of great importance as you start navigating the mental health system. Here are some commonly used terms and phrases. We are constantly adding to the list, but hopefully they will take the mystery out of mental health.
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Family Education & Resource Center
7677 Oakport St. Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94621
Warm Line: (888) 896-3372
Office: (510) 746-1700
| Acronym | Definition | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5150 | Lanterman-Petris-Short Act #5150, section 5150 of California’s Welfare and Institutions Code | A California law code for the temporary, involuntary psychiatric commitment of individuals who present a danger to themselves or others due to a mental health condition. |
| ACBH | Alameda County Behavioral Health (formerly Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services or Behavioral Health Care Services) | Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH) is the lead agency providing coordination of mental health and substance use services in Alameda County. (Formerly known as ACBHCS) |
| ACBHCS | Alameda County Behavioral Health (formerly Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services or Behavioral Health Care Services) | Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH) is the lead agency providing coordination of mental health and substance use services in Alameda County. |
| ACCESS | Acute Crisis Care and Evaluation for System-wide Services | Alameda County’s central point of contact and coordination to mental health services. Alameda County Residents may call this number to be referred to all County mental health and substance abuse services (800-491-9099). |
| ACHCSA | Alameda County Health Care Services Agency | Alameda County’s Health Services Agency is the large agency umbrella that administers: Behavioral Health Care, Public Health, Environmental Health, and Agency Administration/Indigent Health. |
| ACSO | Alameda County Sheriff’s Office | The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) is a law enforcement agency serving Alameda County, California. |
| AOD | Alcohol and Other Drugs | |
| BHCS | Alameda County Behavioral Health (formerly Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services or Behavioral Health Care Services) | Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH) is the lead agency providing coordination of mental health and substance use services in Alameda County. |
| CBO | Community Based Organization | Community based organizations are nonprofit groups that work at a local level to improve life for residents. |
| CIT | Crisis Intervention Training | Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is an evidence-based national training model to better prepare law enforcement personnel to work effectively and holistically with people in a serious mental health crisis. |
| CJMH | Criminal Justice Mental Health | Programs that provides mental health assessments, individual therapy, crisis intervention and medication support within a jail setting. |
| CSS | Community Support Services | This is a program type under the Mental Health Services Act Legislation meant to serve people who have the most severe mental health needs |
| CW | Case Worker | A caseworker is employed by a government agency, non-profit organization, or another group to take on the cases of individuals and provide them with advocacy, information or other services. |
| DOB | Date of Birth | The day someone was born, often needed on forms |
| ED | Emergency Department | The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medical and surgical care to patients arriving at the hospital in need of immediate care. The emergency department is also called the emergency room or ER. |
| EPSDT | Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment | EPSDT is an entitlement for children, 0 up to age 21, who are Medi-Cal eligible. It is designed to provide comprehensive mental health services that can correct or ameliorate mental health problems. These services often include coordination, case management, and an approach which includes family and other providers in the treatment plan. |
| ER | Emergency Room | A hospital room or area staffed and equipped for the reception and treatment of persons with conditions (as illness or trauma) requiring immediate medical care. |
| FSP | Full Service Partnership | Program type under the Mental Health Services Act that take a “whatever it takes” approach to serve those with the most server mental health needs |
| HIPAA | Health Information Portability and Accountability Act | Law that prohibits disclosing certain private health information |
| IEP | Individualized Education Program (IEP) | A written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in meetings between the parent and the IEP Team. In California the IEP covers specific learning disabilities defined by the state. |
| LCSW | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Works with people in order to help deal with issues involving mental and emotional health. |
| MC | Medi-Cal | A program that offers free or low-cost health coverage for children and adults with limited income and resources. |
| MHSA | Mental Health Services ACT | The Mental Health Services Act is a 1% tax on anyone who makes over a million dollars for mental health services in California meant to expand and transform the mental health system. |
| MSW | Masters in Social Work | A master’s degree in social work (MSW) traditionally takes one to two years to complete and is typically a requirement for those hoping to hold a clinical, supervisory, or program director role. |
| NAMI | National Alliance on Mental Illness | The National Alliance On Mental Illness is a United States-based advocacy group originally founded as a grassroots group by family members of people diagnosed with mental illness. |
| NIMH | National Institute on Mental Health | |
| OPD | Oakland Police Department | The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is a law enforcement agency responsible for policing the city of Oakland, California. |
| PES | Psychiatric Emergency Services | Typically, a walk-in, urgent clinic for adults and children having a mental health crisis. |
| SED | Serious Emotional Disorder | Serious Emotional Disorder is the inclusive term for children and adolescents whose emotional and mental disturbance limits their development and require a comprehensive and coordinated system of care to meet their needs. |
| SMI | Severe Mental Illness | Serious Mental Illness is the term for people who have certain mental health diagnoses, and have difficulty managing their life because of that diagnosis. |
| SSDI | Social Security Disability Insurance | SSDI provides monthly income to individuals who are limited in their ability to work because of a physical or mental disability. |
| SSI | Social Security Income | Provides needed financial assistance to low-income people. |
| SW | Social Worker | Social workers are responsible for helping individuals, families, and groups of people to cope with problems they’re facing to improve their patients’ lives. |
| TAY | Transition Aged Youth | Transition Age Youth are youth ages approximately 16-24 who are struggling with mental health issues and sometimes substance use issues. |
| WRAP | Wellness Recovery Action Plan | A self-directed wellness plan. |
Acronym
5150
Definition
Lanterman-Petris-Short Act #5150, section 5150 of California’s Welfare and Institutions Code
Description
A California law code for the temporary, involuntary psychiatric commitment of individuals who present a danger to themselves or others due to a mental health condition.
Acronym
ACBH
Definition
Alameda County Behavioral Health (formerly Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services or Behavioral Health Care Services)
Description
Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH) is the lead agency providing coordination of mental health and substance use services in Alameda County. (Formerly known as ACBHCS)
Acronym
ACBHCS
Definition
Alameda County Behavioral Health (formerly Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services or Behavioral Health Care Services)
Description
Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH) is the lead agency providing coordination of mental health and substance use services in Alameda County.
Acronym
ACCESS
Definition
Acute Crisis Care and Evaluation for System-wide Services
Description
Alameda County’s central point of contact and coordination to mental health services. Alameda County Residents may call this number to be referred to all County mental health and substance abuse services (800-491-9099).
Acronym
ACHCSA
Definition
Alameda County Health Care Services Agency
Description
Alameda County’s Health Services Agency is the large agency umbrella that administers: Behavioral Health Care, Public Health, Environmental Health, and Agency Administration/Indigent Health.
Acronym
ACSO
Definition
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
Description
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) is a law enforcement agency serving Alameda County, California.
Acronym
AOD
Definition
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Acronym
BHCS
Definition
Alameda County Behavioral Health (formerly Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services or Behavioral Health Care Services)
Description
Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH) is the lead agency providing coordination of mental health and substance use services in Alameda County.
Acronym
CBO
Definition
Community Based Organization
Description
Community based organizations are nonprofit groups that work at a local level to improve life for residents.
Acronym
CIT
Definition
Crisis Intervention Training
Description
Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is an evidence-based national training model to better prepare law enforcement personnel to work effectively and holistically with people in a serious mental health crisis.
Acronym
CJMH
Definition
Criminal Justice Mental Health
Description
Programs that provides mental health assessments, individual therapy, crisis intervention and medication support within a jail setting.
Acronym
CSS
Definition
Community Support Services
Description
This is a program type under the Mental Health Services Act Legislation meant to serve people who have the most severe mental health needs
Acronym
CW
Definition
Case Worker
Description
A caseworker is employed by a government agency, non-profit organization, or another group to take on the cases of individuals and provide them with advocacy, information or other services.
Acronym
DOB
Definition
Date of Birth
Description
The day someone was born, often needed on forms
Acronym
ED
Definition
Emergency Department
Description
The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medical and surgical care to patients arriving at the hospital in need of immediate care. The emergency department is also called the emergency room or ER.
Acronym
EPSDT
Definition
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
Description
EPSDT is an entitlement for children, 0 up to age 21, who are Medi-Cal eligible. It is designed to provide comprehensive mental health services that can correct or ameliorate mental health problems. These services often include coordination, case management, and an approach which includes family and other providers in the treatment plan.
Acronym
ER
Definition
Emergency Room
Description
A hospital room or area staffed and equipped for the reception and treatment of persons with conditions (as illness or trauma) requiring immediate medical care.
Acronym
FSP
Definition
Full Service Partnership
Description
Program type under the Mental Health Services Act that take a “whatever it takes” approach to serve those with the most server mental health needs
Acronym
HIPAA
Definition
Health Information Portability and Accountability Act
Description
Law that prohibits disclosing certain private health information
Acronym
IEP
Definition
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Description
A written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in meetings between the parent and the IEP Team. In California the IEP covers specific learning disabilities defined by the state.
Acronym
LCSW
Definition
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Description
Works with people in order to help deal with issues involving mental and emotional health.
Acronym
MC
Definition
Medi-Cal
Description
A program that offers free or low-cost health coverage for children and adults with limited income and resources.
Acronym
MHSA
Definition
Mental Health Services ACT
Description
The Mental Health Services Act is a 1% tax on anyone who makes over a million dollars for mental health services in California meant to expand and transform the mental health system.
Acronym
MSW
Definition
Masters in Social Work
Description
A master’s degree in social work (MSW) traditionally takes one to two years to complete and is typically a requirement for those hoping to hold a clinical, supervisory, or program director role.
Acronym
NAMI
Definition
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Description
The National Alliance On Mental Illness is a United States-based advocacy group originally founded as a grassroots group by family members of people diagnosed with mental illness.
Acronym
NIMH
Definition
National Institute on Mental Health
Acronym
OPD
Definition
Oakland Police Department
Description
The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is a law enforcement agency responsible for policing the city of Oakland, California.
Acronym
PES
Definition
Psychiatric Emergency Services
Description
Typically, a walk-in, urgent clinic for adults and children having a mental health crisis.
Acronym
SED
Definition
Serious Emotional Disorder
Description
Serious Emotional Disorder is the inclusive term for children and adolescents whose emotional and mental disturbance limits their development and require a comprehensive and coordinated system of care to meet their needs.
Acronym
SMI
Definition
Severe Mental Illness
Description
Serious Mental Illness is the term for people who have certain mental health diagnoses, and have difficulty managing their life because of that diagnosis.
Acronym
SSDI
Definition
Social Security Disability Insurance
Description
SSDI provides monthly income to individuals who are limited in their ability to work because of a physical or mental disability.
Acronym
SSI
Definition
Social Security Income
Description
Provides needed financial assistance to low-income people.
Acronym
SW
Definition
Social Worker
Description
Social workers are responsible for helping individuals, families, and groups of people to cope with problems they’re facing to improve their patients’ lives.
Acronym
TAY
Definition
Transition Aged Youth
Description
Transition Age Youth are youth ages approximately 16-24 who are struggling with mental health issues and sometimes substance use issues.
Acronym
WRAP
Definition
Wellness Recovery Action Plan
Description
A self-directed wellness plan.
Contact Us
To Get the Support You Need
Being a caregiver is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Family Education & Resource center supports the families and caregivers of children, youth, adults, and seniors working through mental health challenges. Our dedicated team, extensive program offerings, peer support groups, and resource library are here to help you every step of the way. Contact us today to connect with an advocate.