ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN NYC- 2022
Need mental health care and live in NYC? Here are some options:
• Start with your health insurance plan. Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask for 5 providers within your area that are accepting new clients. Do this repeatedly until you get someone. If you are open to virtual therapy, your provider has to be in your state, this is a way to increase your options.
• Go on PsychologyToday.com and search based on your insurance plan and zip code, again, if you are open to virtual therapy the provider must be in your state, this can bring in many more options.
Don't have any health insurance? Or are open to paying for mental health care?
If you don’t have health insurance (or even if you do) you can access Health and Hospitals Corporation Hospitals. They are spread throughout the 5 boroughs and treat everyone who comes through their doors regardless of inability to pay or immigration status. They can offer reduced cost mental health services, and/or connect you with health insurance. Here is a listing of Health and Hospitals Corporation Hospitals (HHC) : https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/ HHC also has special services for maternal mental health, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and more.
You can also consider these options. Go on these sites and search, email or schedule with those providers that might be a match for you:
• OpenPathCollective.org (provides reduced cost therapy sessions starting at $30 for an individual and $50 for a couple or family)
• PsychologyToday.com (you can search with your insurance information as a filter) • TherapyForBlackMen.org
• AmiraForHer.com or AmiraForHim.com
Do you feel like you might hurt yourself or like you don't want to be alive anymore? Then you NEED HELP NOW!
TEXT GOT5 to 741741 and you will be immediately in text with a crisis counselor (https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/suicide_prevention/cp.html )
Live Chat the National Suicide Helpline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call them at 800-273- 8255.
Find and go immediately to the nearest psychiatric emergency
room https://my.omh.ny.gov/bi/pd/saw.dll?PortalPages
Call a mobile crisis team (they can send mental health professionals to your home, assess you and treat you on the spot, no insurance needed). Call 311 to reach a mobile crisis team near you. If you live in NYC consider calling 311 and ask for a mobile crisis unit to come to your home, they will assess and possibly treat you there.
If you live outside of NYC, but in NYS go to https://www.nyconnects.ny.gov/contact-us and search mobile crisis team, or call your local information number and ask for a mobile crisis team that serves your area.
You can call 911 and ask to be taken to a psychiatric emergency room.