Resources

Aide stations you may find useful in your travels:

Employer Paid Benefits:

EAP – Many employers offer an Employee Assistance Program ("EAP") to help you with crisis issues and to identify mental healthcare options available to you. While most EAP programs offer only 3 visits for this purpose, some employers provide up to 10 sessions to cover issues considered "short term." Your employer's Benefits Coordinator can provide information about this benefit.

Health Insurance – Most health insurance plans have a mental health component, even HMO's. Many are managed by a behavioral health management group. Mental health benefits available to you can be determined by dialing the telephone number usually located on the back of your insurance card. When calling, you will need to confirm:

  • if mental health benefits are available to you;
  • if so, how many sessions are allowed;
  • what is your co-pay;
  • are you restricted to a specific panel (i.e., in-network provider);
  • is there any coverage if you want to see a therapist not on your insurance panel (i.e., out of network provider); and
  • how do you locate an in-network therapist.

Your employer's Benefits Coordinator can provide information about this benefit.

Community Resources

Mental health clinics and agencies usually work on a sliding scale and many accept Medicaid. In addition, they often offer more flexible hours, including weekends and evenings. Mental health clinics are often attached to universities and hospitals.

Sliding Scale – Many clinics are able to see clients at a reduced fee that is based on your ability to pay.

Medicaid – call 1-800-854-7771 (LA County Mental Health) to find providers who accept Medicaid.

Telephone Book – Check the yellow pages under the headings "psychotherapy" or "marriage and family therapists."

Internet Resources – The internet is an outstanding resource to help locate a therapist. A great place to begin an internet search for therapists in your area is to do a Google search on any of the following keywords and your zip code:

  • "mental health"
  • "mental health clinics"
  • "community mental health"
  • "psychotherapy"
  • "marriage and family therapists"

After the results are displayed, a quick scroll down to the "Local business results for …" should display a list of local resources

Other Helpful Community Resources

California Department of Mental Health
http://www.dmh.ca.gov

LA County Mental Health
1-800-854-7771)
http://dmh.lacounty.gov

Mental Health Association in California
http://www.mhac.org

Support for Depression

Screening for Mental Health (for depression screening click on blue button top left "Anonymous Self-Assessment")
http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org

Stress, Anxiety and Depression Resource Center
http://www.stress-anxiety-depression.org

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
http://www.DBSAlliance.org or
http://www.ndmda.org

National Institute of Mental Health
(free brochures: 1-800-421-4211)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

National Mental Health Association
http://www.nmha.org

National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/depression.html

Resources for Stress

National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stress.html

Medicine Net
http://www.medicinenet.com/stress/article.htm

American Institute of Stress
http://www.stress.org

Women's Health
http://www.4women.gov/faq/stress-your-health.cfm

Stress, Anxiety and Depression Resource Center
http://www.stress-anxiety-depression.org

Support for Anxiety

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
http://www.adaa.org

Stress, Anxiety and Depression Resource Center
http://www.stress-anxiety-depression.org

National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anxiety.html

Anxieties.com
http://www.anxieties.com

The Anxiety/Panic Internet Resource ("TAPIR")
http://www.algy.com

Support for the Mentally Ill

Mental Health America
http://www.nmha.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness ("NAMI")
http://www.nami.org

NAMI California
http://www.namicalifornia.org

Crisis Resources

24-Hour Crisis Hotline
800-854-7771

Suicide Prevention Crisis Line
1-877-727-4747
1-800-273-8255

Suicide Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Teen Suicide Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
http://www.yellowribbon.org

Therapist Locators

Therapist Locators present an excellent resource to help locate therapists who meet specific criteria (e.g., a specific language skill or ethnicity, or when a psychiatrist or psychologist is needed).

Psychology Today
http://therapist.psychologytoday.com

Therapist Finder
(sponsored by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)
http://www.therapistfinder.com

Therapist Locator
(sponsored by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)
http://www.therapistlocator.net/index.asp

WebMD
(to locate a psychiatrist)
http://doctor.webmd.com/physician_finder