LOS ANGELES — Twice a week, 23-year-old Kammerrin Herron visits her grandmother, a community organizer known as “Sweet Alice” Harris in Watts.

For Herron, connecting with family and friends is something long overdue — especially coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left her feeling isolated.

"I actually have to sit with my thoughts, actually having to take time to sit and be like, 'Wow, this is really how I feel about myself?'" said Herron.

Herron, who works in health care, says she’s taken to prioritizing mental health. She has a therapist who she meets with on Zoom, but when she’s on-the-go or doesn’t have privacy for a virtual session, she’ll hop into a TeleHealth Van, where she can sit inside and speak to a therapist over an iPad.

“So far, it’s provided a level of comfortability," she said. "It just feels like I am talking to a friend."

The van stays parked at specific locations and people can hop in for appointments, including mental health and social services. There are 15 vans in use throughout Southern California and in other states, a service launched two years ago by Dion and Krystal Rambo, who saw a need in low-income and homeless communities for virtual services from doctors, therapists and caseworkers.

The vans provide privacy and flexible times for those seeking appointments.

"In terms of need, we can’t do enough," said Dion Rambo. "I mean, we have been even trying to teach people how to do TeleHealth Vans just because we can’t find another solution that can go to where they are. People don’t want to leave their tents. People don’t want to leave their RVs."

Or they may not have internet access for a virtual appointment, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who says about 400,000 residents in her district face that problem and the reason why she deploys two vans in her district.

"We also have all lived through a shared traumatic experience, and I think it’s created a unique opportunity in every community to talk about our own mental health needs, our own trauma and how to access appropriate services,” Mitchell said. “So this was an opportunity we took advantage of to answer the call from the residents of the second district, who said, 'We want services. We want services in our community, and we want services on-demand.'"

Mitchell also pointed out that earlier this year, the LA County Department of Mental Health launched a suicide crisis hotline, 9-8-8, for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. She hopes the TeleHealth Van service could also help break down the stigma of seeking help for mental health. Clients can also walk up to the vans and make appointments without ever setting foot inside.

Herron says she likes the privacy of the vehicles and the chance to get stuff off her chest.

"Mental health matters, definitely. You need somebody to talk to? Just hop in the van and get your talk on."