A Los Angeles Woman Was Lost. An Ambitious Mental Health Program Gave Her Purpose

A Los Angeles Woman Was Lost. An Ambitious Mental Health Program Gave Her Purpose

From The California Report Magazine by KQED

April 24, 2026 · 30 min

About this episode

The episode explores a mental health program in Los Angeles that emphasizes community and purpose for individuals with serious mental illness.

For people living with serious mental illness, there’s more to recovery than clinical treatment. Los Angeles County’s Hollywood 2.0 pilot program puts that idea into practice. Inspired by an Italian city’s holistic and successful approach — centered on friendship and purpose — officials brought the model stateside. For people like Mignon Poon, who spent years unhoused, the opportunity for community has proved pivotal. Reporter Lee Romney takes us inside a program that offers a new model for mental health care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: KQED

Guest: Lee Romney

Topics covered

  • mental health
  • community support
  • recovery programs
  • Los Angeles
  • holistic approaches

Keywords

  • mental health
  • Los Angeles
  • community
  • recovery
  • Hollywood 2.0
  • Mignon Poon
  • Lee Romney

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Los Angeles County, Hollywood 2.0

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