COUNTY BACKS MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC EXPANSION; NEWHALL SITE TO ADD PROGRAMS.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved expansion of the Santa Clarita Valley Mental Health Clinic on Peachland Avenue to make room for new programs, including independent-living classes that give the mentally ill everyday skills.

``We could use the space,'' said Carlene Rechenmacher, the clinic's manager. ``We're really sitting on top of each other over here.''

The clinic, which occupies about 3,200 square feet in an office complex off Lyons Avenue, will add 1,100 square feet and remain in the same location, Rechenmacher said.

The space will raise the rent by $1,075 a month to $4,347 under a lease that lasts until July 2001, said Kathryn Barger with Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich's office. The expansion was a typical procedure for an increased caseload, she said.

Though the need for a larger mental health clinic in Santa Clarita may seem surprising, Rechenmacher said, the clinic only serves a portion of those needing treatment.

Others suffering from mental illness either have not been treated or go to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital for care, Rechenmacher said.

For example, about 1 percent of the world population suffers from schizophrenia and about 10 percent suffer from depression or mood disorders, Rechenmacher said.

The clinic serves about 440 regular clients, Rechenmacher said.

``We're certainly not serving everyone that needs to be served,'' Rechenmacher said.

The Santa Clarita Valley Mental Health Clinic tends to be somewhat busy for its size, however, because this area does not have residential care facilities where the mentally ill may live and get treatment, Rechenmacher said.

``We have no community care facilities in this area, but the San Fernando Valley has many,'' Rechenmacher said.

The expansion will allow the clinic to provide more intensive services that were previously unavailable, Rechenmacher said. Patients typically received only treatment and medication, she said.

With the additional space, the clinic will begin offering a community living program, which over 10 weeks, four days a week, will teach the mentally ill life skills, such as how to manage their money and groom themselves, Rechenmacher said. Most patients live with family but would prefer being on their own, she said.

The patients may then get their own place, but return to attend support groups and continue treatment, she said.

The clinic will also begin a class in February designed for family members of the mentally ill. The free family education program will be Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8 at the clinic. The classes will be run by Anne Stenquist, a licensed therapist.

A third program will also be introduced for mentally ill patients who use at least $30,000 in medical services a year, Rechenmacher said.

``We want to try to change their utilization habits,'' Rechenmacher said. ``We want to provide them with quality, 24-hour services as an alternative to them going to the hospital. It's prevention.''

For information on the Santa Clarita Valley Mental Health Clinic, 25050 Peachland Ave., call [phone].