Mental Health Evaluation?

[Mozenrath]

Okay, I am frustrated, so I am going to try to be quick about this:

I strongly suspect I have problems with depression and anxiety, and want very much to get help. However, I am stuck.

I do not have insurance, and I do not have a job. I can find services for crisis hotlines and for people on the brink, but I am not on the brink. I want help, but I am not suicidal.

These services exist, I am positive, but the way I thought I could get help is turning out to be a bust. How do I go about this?

[Deleted]

I don't know who you should contact but, I'll throw it out there, if you want to talk about it, pm anytime.

[SAJ Forth]

I tried the site Mentalhealthscreening.org I'm not sure if it's much help, but you can try it.

[slappy]

I have insurance so it's probably different but I just called up the psychiatry center in town and told the receptionist how I was feeling (in general terms not detailed) and she set me up with a therapist that does the pre-evaluations and then that person recommended me a psychiatrist to see based off of what I told him and I've been seeing that doctor for years now.

I'm sure you could do the same and just set up some kind of payment arrangements even if it's just a little at a time, they'll understand.

[Legion]

In England, the county you live in will have a mental health community team who deal with that for you, all free of course due to the National Health.

Can you not at least call a local doctor's office and ask for free? Or will they not even speak to you without the insurance?

[Error]

The best things I can think to tell you are start calling doctor's offices and county health services and explain the situation you are in. Depending on where you're at they might be able to point you to someone that can help based on income or know a program in the area that can help. Sad thing is you'll have to keep at it as some won't know and some will hide it.


Also if there is a good sized hospital or university in the area check with their medical facilities as well. The larger the better as they will have programs especially for uninsured people.

I've been going through something similar and I am jumping through a ton of hoops but when I get something it's usually worth it.

[8.2.11/SAVIOR_NEZ]

I used to work for a mental health office, and they did an income based payment deal. They were state funded, so the money came out of the general fund they got from the state. We had quite a few people on the plan that either paid very little, or nothing at all. The doctors we had were usually really good about providing info for medication assistance too.

I would suggest calling around your area and see if any of the places around you do that. You'll have to provide tax information and all that, but it shouldn't be too hard to fill out. Good luck to you, man.

[britishbulldog]

Call a local university that has a mental health degree program. Generally they have a treatment center that they put their students who are ready to graduate into. I went to one and the cost was 5 dollars a week. I will say that if you do not feel the person is helpful ask for another. But I say the same thing about any therapist. Good luck to you, I know the difficulties it causes.

[Piccolo]

Are you in the states? If so, check out the links on this page:

www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml

And specifically, this one:

findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx

[Mozenrath]

I am in the United States. Thank you, everyone, I appreciate this. Hopefully these resources might help others here who might be afraid to look themselves.

[amaron]

Many towns have mental health clinics that use a sliding scale for fees.