Accessing mental health services in Ohio
Finding mental health services can be challenging. Learn about resources in Ohio, paying for services and handling problems.
988: If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, you can call or text 988 to talk to someone about your mental health. You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org or contact 988 if you are worried about a family member or friend.
Ohio has a variety of organizations and resources focused on mental health.
Where to get help
If you have health insurance, a good place to start is by calling the number on the back of your insurance card. You can ask if they have a case manager who could help you understand your options and find services.
If you don’t have insurance, and you’re not sure where to start, contact your local ADAMH board. Every Ohio county is covered by an ADAMH board.
Your ADAMH board can help connect you to:
- Crisis and emergency care: You can find local crisis and emergency services for mental health.
- Direct services: You can ask about direct mental health care services, like getting connected to a doctor, psychologist or treatment facility.
- Community support: You can learn about programs to support people who are getting mental health services.
You can find your local ADAMH board and crisis and emergency numbers by going to “Local Government and Community Resources” at the bottom of this page. Click to see all the options, then enter your county and click to update and see your results.
Sometimes people ask how to get help for a family member who has been arrested. Learn about what to do if your family member has been arrested.
Paying for services
If you can’t afford services or don’t have insurance, there may be programs that could help. For example:
- Medicaid. Medicaid is a federal program that helps pay medical costs for people struggling with their health care expenses. You can apply for Medicaid even if you don’t have a disability. You may qualify based on your income. Medicaid does not send money directly to you, it pays the people providing the health care. Learn more about Medicaid and how to apply.
- HealthCare.gov. You can shop for health insurance at HeathCare.gov, which is run by the federal government under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If you don’t qualify for Medicaid, you may be able to find affordable health insurance options at HealthCare.gov. You can also get help understanding your options by talking to a navigator at Get Covered Ohio or by calling (833) 628-4467.
- HCAP or charity care. Hospitals must have a plan to help low-income patients who are at or below the poverty level. You can ask about a hospital’s charity care or Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP). You also should get information about health care assistance programs when you get your bill.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers. You may be able to get health care through a Federally Qualified Health Center (also known as a Community Health Center). These centers provide care regardless of a person's ability to pay or insurance. Learn more from the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers.
Your local legal aid may be able to help you if you are being sued for your medical debt.
Handling problems with mental health services
Here are 3 ways to advocate for yourself.
- Talk with staff. Ask questions about your care. Ask someone to explain your treatment plan to you. Ask for a second opinion if you want one. Your provider may even be able to help connect you to another provider.
- Be proactive. You usually need persistence to get to the outcome you want. You may need to talk to many different people about your concerns.
- Put complaints in writing. Write down your complaint. Include exactly what happened. Mental health care facilities must have a grievance process for handling complaints. If you’re not satisfied with the outcome, you can contact your local ADAMH board and then the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services.