Finding Mental Health Care Services and Resources

From anxiety disorder to depression to schizophrenia, millions of Americans are affected by mental health conditions every year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health. Dealing with mental health problems can be overwhelming as you make sure you or your loved one is getting the right care.

Gathering the right information on a mental illness can empower you by providing you with early warning signs, tips on boosting health, and how to seek help or start a conversation with a loved one living with a mental illness. This makes it all the more important to know where to seek out information you can trust.

If you're seeking professional behavior health assistance, here are a few places to start:

Seek Out Mental Health Services in Affiliated School Programs

University or medical school-affiliated programs may offer treatment options or studies you can take part in. Search on the website of local university health centers for their psychiatry or psychology departments.

Discover National Mental Health Care Resources

National agencies and advocacy and professional organizations can provide helpful information and health care providers in your area. In fact, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a Behavioral Health Treatment Locator on its website that can be searched by location, so you can easily access care where you need it.

Other national agencies include:

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
• Mental Health America
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• National Institute of Mental Health

Find Affordable Mental Health Care Options

If you purchase your own health plan, you can write off 100 percent of the cost of the premium, even if you don’t itemize your deductions. The deduction — which you will find on Form 1040 — allows self-employed individuals to reduce their adjusted gross income by the amount they pay in health care premiums during a given year, according to healthinsurance.org.

Most importantly, know that you are never alone in living with or caring for someone with a mental illness. If you are in crisis and need immediate support or intervention, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) to talk to a crisis worker, any time, day or night.

Sources:

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/index.shtml

http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers