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How To Get Affordable State Sponsored Therapy in Alabama

Many people don’t realize that publicly-funded mental health services are available in their state. People looking for free or low-cost counseling often think their only options are counselors in private practice and don’t know that publicly-funded providers in their communities may also offer counseling services.

While state-based programs are not for everyone, they are often a great place to start for people who face geographic or financial barriers to therapy. Intake specialists at community mental health programs can help people learn whether they qualify for state-funded services and can refer people who don’t qualify to other low-cost programs that may be able to meet their needs.

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When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?

Few private mental health providers are able to immediately serve people in crisis, while most state mental health systems, including Alabama’s, have crisis response systems that help people get mental health care quickly in an emergency. This usually makes public mental health services the best option if you’re having a mental health crisis and need help right away. The people who answer crisis lines can provide caring attention and support as they help you determine the best response to a crisis, whether it’s inpatient treatment or an appointment with a counselor.

Community mental health centers (CMHCs) are state-run outpatient programs that provide care for people who lack the means to access outpatient mental health services in the private sector. In addition to offering affordable therapy, CMHCs provide specialized and intensive services, such as case management and psychosocial rehabilitation, that aren’t available anywhere else or that are hard to find in private clinics. These specialized services help people with severe mental health conditions maintain a good quality of life in the community. Consider going to a CMHC if you need intensive treatment or can’t access mental health care in the private sector due to your diagnosis or financial situation.

Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Alabama?

While some Alabama CMHCs run clinics that are open to people with moderate mental health conditions, most CMHCs in Alabama restrict eligibility to people who have a serious mental illness (SMI). This means you need to have a major psychotic, mood, or anxiety disorder to qualify for care at an Alabama CMHC. You also need to experience functional impairments or be at risk of hospitalization to qualify as having a SMI.

If you haven’t yet been diagnosed with a mental health condition and think you may benefit from services at a CMHC, consider calling your local program to set up an assessment. Ask if there is a charge for an assessment if you find out that you don’t qualify for CMHC services. Many people who have a serious mental illness don’t yet realize it. Prevalent mental health diagnoses like major depressive disorder and panic disorder qualify as serious mental illnesses in Alabama.

If you qualify for services at an Alabama CMHC, you will need to pay for your care using cash or insurance. Most CMHCs in Alabama accept Medicare, Medicaid, and a range of private insurance plans. They also offer reduced and sliding-scale fees to people who lack insurance and can’t afford the full fees. Availability of counseling and other clinical services depends on each CMHC’s funding and staff at any given time.

Alabama did not accept Medicaid expansion, so it is not possible to get Medicaid as a childless adult in Alabama unless you have a disability. Alabama does not have any special state funding assistance programs other than Medicaid for people who need mental health care but does offer mental health services for reduced fees at many state-licensed clinics and CMHCs. To find out how fees at your local CMHC compare to fees for private providers, you can call your local CMHC and ask what they charge.

If you’re not finding the care you need through the state system or tried it and felt like it wasn’t right for you, other options include searching for free or low-cost counselors on OpenCounseling or trying affordable online counseling at BetterHelp.

How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Alabama?

The best way to find out about your local CMHC in Alabama is to call the program directly. You can reach the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) General Information line at (800) 367-0955 if you’re not sure which CMHC to call. You can also look up the mental health crisis and access line for your county on the ADMH website or use their Provider Directory tool to locate the CMHC serving your city or county. For your convenience, we have also listed all Alabama mental health crisis lines and CMHC contact numbers below.

Region I (Northern) Clinics and Crisis Lines

  • CED Mental Health Center
    • Serving Cherokee, DeKalb, and Etowah Counties
    • Main Number and Crisis Line: (256) 492-7800
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Cherokee County (Centre): (256) 927-3601
      • DeKalb County (Fort Payne): (256) 845-4571
      • Etowah County (Attalla): (256) 492-7800
  • WellStone Behavioral Health
    • Serving Cullman and Madison Counties
    • Cullman County Main Number and Crisis Line: (256) 734-4688
    • Cullman County Office and Access to Care Line (Cullman): (256) 255-1020
    • Madison County Main Number and Crisis Line: (256) 533-1970
    • Madison County Office and Access to Care Line (Huntsville): (256) 705-6444

Region II (Western) Clinics and Crisis Lines

  • Indian Rivers Mental Health Center
    • Serving Bibb, Pickens, and Tuscaloosa Counties
    • Main Number: (205) 391-3131
    • Crisis Line: Call your county office’s number
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Bibb County Office (Brent): (205) 926-4681
      • Pickens County Office (Carrolton): (205) 367-8032
      • Tuscaloosa County Office (Tuscaloosa): (205) 391-3131
  • Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center
    • Serving Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, and Winston Counties
    • Crisis Line: (205) 302-9000 or (800) 489-3971
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Fayette County Office (Fayette): (205) 932-3216 or (800) 489-3972
      • Lamar County Office (Vernon): (205) 695-9183 or (800) 489-3975
      • Marion County Office (Hamilton): (205) 921-2186 or (800) 489-3974
      • Walker County Office (Jasper): (205) 387-0541 or (800) 489-3971
      • Winston County Office (Haleyville): (205) 486-4111 or (800) 489-3973

Region III (Eastern) Clinics and Crisis Lines

  • AltaPointe Health Systems
    • Serving Baldwin, Clay, Coosa, Mobile, Randolph, Talladega, and Washington Counties
    • Crisis and Appointment Line: (251) 450-2211 or (888) 335-3044
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Bay Minette Outpatient Services (Bay Minette): (251) 937-2010
      • BayView Professional Associates (Fairhope): (251) 660-2360
      • BayView Professional Associates (Mobile): (251) 660-2360
      • Clay County Outpatient Services (Lineville): (256) 487-0150
      • Fairhope Outpatient Services (Fairhope): (251) 928-2871
      • Foley Outpatient Services (Foley): (251) 929-5410
      • Mobile Outpatient Services, Zeigler Campus (Mobile): (251) 473-4423
      • Mobile Gordon Smith Drive Campus (Mobile): (251) 473-4423
      • Talladega Outpatient Services (Talladega): (256) 362-8600
      • Randolph County Outpatient Services (Roanoke): (334) 777-5920
      • South Mobile County Outpatient Services (Bayou La Batre): (251) 824-2310
      • Sylacauga Outpatient Services (Sylacauga): (256) 245-2201
      • University of South Alabama Department of Psychiatry (Mobile): (251) 660-2360
      • Washington County Outpatient Services (Chatom): (251) 847-2301
      • West Mobile Adult Outpatient Services (Mobile): (251) 666-2569

Region IV (Southwest) Clinics and Crisis Lines

  • East Alabama Mental Health Center
    • Serving Chambers, Lee, Russell, and Tallapoosa Counties
    • Main Number and Crisis Line: (334) 742-2877 or (800) 815-0630
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Dadeville Center (Dadeville): (256) 373-3538
      • Lee County Clinic (Opelika): (334) 742-2700
      • Nan Coley Murphy Center (Alexander City): (256) 329-8463
      • OD Alsobrook Center (Valley): (334) 756-4117
      • Russell County Center (Phenix City): (334) 298-2405
  • Montgomery Area Mental Health Authority
    • Serving Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, and Montgomery Counties
    • Main Number and Crisis Line: (334) 279-7830
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Montgomery Area Mental Health Authority Complex (Montgomery)
      • Autauga County Fountain Center (Prattville): (334) 365-2207
      • Elmore County Hillside Mental Health Center (Wetumpka): (334) 567-8408
      • Lowndes County Mental Health Center (Hayneville): (334) 548-2578
  • SpectraCare Health Systems
    • Serving Barbour, Dale, Geneva, Henry, and Houston Counties
    • Main Number and Crisis Line: (800) 951-4357
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Main Office (Dothan): (334) 712-2720
      • Barbour County Clinic (Eufaula): (334) 687-2323
      • Dale County Clinic (Ozark): (334) 774-3052
      • Geneva County Clinic (Geneva): (334) 684-9615
      • Henry County Clinic (Abbeville): (334) 585-5331

Region V (Southeast) Clinics and Crisis Lines

  • AltaPointe Health Systems
    • Serving Baldwin, Clay, Coosa, Mobile, Randolph, Talladega, and Washington Counties
    • Crisis and Appointment Line: (251) 450-2211 or (888) 335-3044
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Bay Minette Outpatient Services (Bay Minette): (251) 937-2010
      • BayView Professional Associates (Fairhope): (251) 660-2360
      • BayView Professional Associates (Mobile): (251) 660-2360
      • Clay County Outpatient Services (Lineville): (256) 487-0150
      • Fairhope Outpatient Services (Fairhope): (251) 928-2871
      • Foley Outpatient Services (Foley): (251) 929-5410
      • Mobile Outpatient Services, Zeigler Campus (Mobile): (251) 473-4423
      • Mobile Gordon Smith Drive Campus (Mobile): (251) 473-4423
      • Talladega Outpatient Services (Talladega): (256) 362-8600
      • Randolph County Outpatient Services (Roanoke): (334) 777-5920
      • South Mobile County Outpatient Services (Bayou La Batre): (251) 824-2310
      • Sylacauga Outpatient Services (Sylacauga): (256) 245-2201
      • University of South Alabama Department of Psychiatry (Mobile): (251) 660-2360
      • Washington County Outpatient Services (Chatom): (251) 847-2301
      • West Mobile Adult Outpatient Services (Mobile): (251) 666-2569
  • Eastside Mental Health Center
    • Serving Blount, Jefferson, and St. Clair Counties
    • Daytime Crisis Line: Call your county’s outpatient office
    • After-Hours Crisis Line: (205) 836-7283
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Blount County Office (Oneonta): (205) 625-3882
      • Jefferson County Office (Birmingham): (205) 836-7283
      • St. Clair County Office (Pell City): (205) 338-7525
  • Highland Health Systems
    • Serving Calhoun and Cleburne Counties
    • Main Number: (256) 326-3403
    • Calhoun County Crisis Line: (256) 236-3403
    • Cleburne County Crisis Line: (256) 463-2969
    • Adult Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
      • Highland Health Systems Anniston: (256) 236-3403
      • Highland Health Systems Jacksonville: (256) 435-5502
      • Highland Health Systems Heflin: (256) 463-2969

Federally Qualified Health Centers 

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another option for public mental health care in Alabama. These federally-funded programs provide medical and mental health services to people in underserved communities. Their goal is to deliver high-quality coordinated care to people with complex needs and to link behavioral healthcare with primary medical care. Each FQHC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers sliding scale fees to people without insurance. You can search for FQHCs using the online search tool on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

How Does Alabama's Public Mental Health System Work?

In the 1960s, Americans started thinking differently about how to treat mental health conditions. New laws required state and local governments to establish community mental health programs as alternatives to institutionalization for people with serious mental illness. Many states’ public mental health programs trace their origins back to this period. Alabama is no exception.

After President John F. Kennedy signed the federal Community Mental Health Act in 1963, Alabama passed its own state community mental health law in 1965. Among other things, Act 881 created the Alabama Department of Mental Health and authorized the establishment of the state’s public mental health system. Many Alabama CMHCs were established soon afterward in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Mental health services in Alabama are primarily managed on the state level. The Alabama Department of Mental Health contracts with independent providers who deliver state-funded outpatient mental health and crisis intervention services. Compared to other contract-based state systems, Alabama’s is relatively simple. Most counties are served by a single CMHC and its satellite clinics. A few counties are served by two, and Jefferson County is served by multiple outpatient providers.

Alabama was famously responsible for the 1971 Wyatt v. Stickney court case that changed mental health care in this country. The judge’s ruling required psychiatric institutions to abide by a set of minimum standards including doing everything possible to return patients to society. These standards ultimately became national standards for inpatient psychiatric treatment. Unable to afford the extensive updates required by the law, Alabama instead released most of the patients in its psychiatric institutions in the mid-1970s.

Alabama shut down most of its psychiatric hospitals in 2012 and 2013 in one of the fastest and most dramatic mental health service shutdowns in the country. Like other states, Alabama’s budget was severely impacted by the 2008 recession, following which it limited or eliminated many public mental health services in the state. Alabamians have identified mental health as a top state priority and the state is currently taking measures to improve its system, including establishing more crisis centers, supportive housing, and community-based services.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 44 percent of people in Alabama who have mental health conditions get treatment for them. One reason for the care gap is that people aren’t aware of their options for affordable mental health care in Alabama, including CMHCs. You can help change these statistics by reaching out and using local mental health resources to get the care you need.

 

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