Coping with Community in Crisis: Heightened ICE Presence in Los Angeles

Written by Your Behavioral Health Team

When communities we know and love are facing difficult times, it’s natural to feel a sense of uncertainty in our daily lives. This year, Los Angeles has endured a series of challenges from widespread wildfires to the recent increase in ICE activity that has sparked concern and protests both locally and nationwide.

In light of these events, our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Martha Koo M.D., and CEO Matthew Zubiller shares the following message, a reminder that compassion, connection and support are at the heart of what we do:

“In moments of collective stress and uncertainty, our mental well-being matters more than ever. Without mental health, there can be no true physical or social health. Let’s care for our minds and for one another. Stay grounded. Stay compassionate. Our hearts at YBH are with all those affected by the recent events in Los Angeles and across the country.”

Our team at Your Behavioral Health is here to offer some tips to support your emotional well-being and community care during this stressful and tumultuous time.

How Community Crisis Affects Our Mental Health

During times of crisis in our communities, it’s normal to experience a wide range of emotions — frustration, confusion, rage, helplessness, fear, sadness, even anger. These emotional responses are valid and can, over time, contribute to, or exacerbate existing mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Challenging community-wide events can impact your mental well-being, especially if you feel unsupported or unheard.

For many in the Los Angeles community, including immigrants, children of immigrants, the elderly, and people with pre-existing mental health conditions, the toll can be even greater. Trying to carry on as if everything is ‘normal’ can feel overwhelming.

The emotional weight of these events may affect your ability to work, maintain relationships, or simply get through the day. It’s important to acknowledge it’s okay to not feel okay. Seeking support for yourself and offering support to others is not only helpful, but essential for mental wellness. Trying to move forward can impact your mental health and finding ways to support yourself and others can help ease symptoms related to these events.

How to Support Each Other Through Uncertainty

Supporting your community during uncertain times can feel challenging, but even small acts of care can make a meaningful difference. Some powerful ways to show support include:

Practical Support:

Childcare and babysitting

Transportation

Grocery shopping

Household chores

Cooking and sharing meals

Emotional Support Strategies:

Active listening

Validation

Having regular check ins

Asking “How can I support you in this moment?”

Actively supporting children and families can alleviate the stress they might be experiencing. When offering support, it’s important to approach others with cultural sensitivity and respect. Take time to educate yourself, listen openly, and get involved in your community to build meaningful connections, and better understand the needs around you.

If someone you care about is struggling to cope, they may benefit from professional help. Helping them find mental health and other resources in Los Angeles can be a powerful way to show you’re here for them.

Your Behavioral Health Supports Los Angeles

As members of the Los Angeles community, our team at Your Behavioral Health and across our family of brands has felt the impact of the current crisis firsthand. Lindsey Rae Ackerman, LMFT and Vice President of Clinical Services, shares: “ICE enforcement actions create profound psychological distress not only for directly targeted individuals but for entire communities, triggering trauma responses and chronic hypervigilance that can persist long after immediate threats subside.

During times of civil unrest and community fear, our mental health depends on maintaining connection with trusted support systems and engaging in grounding practices that help regulate our nervous system responses.

Our role as behavioral health providers is to normalize these responses while helping people access support. Creating safe spaces for processing these experiences is crucial for collective healing and resilience. That can be through community gatherings, peer support, or professional counseling.”

Moving Forward through Uncertainty with Community and Care

Community means leading with empathy and care, showing up for one another through both calm and crisis. Prioritizing your own mental health is not selfish; it is what gives you the energy to take care of others in the community.

If you’re struggling and not improving, seeking help is a powerful act of courage. It’s also an act of care for your community, because without you, there is no community.

Our communities have faced hardship before, and history shows we can heal move forward. While the scars may remain, so too do our resilience, our hope, and our shared humanity.

At Your Behavioral Health and across our family of brands—Clear Behavioral Health, Neuro Wellness Spa, and New Life House—we’re proud to call Los Angeles home. We remain committed to honoring the city’s cultural roots and standing strong with our community. We will always be LA strong.