Your (Unofficial) Guide to State-Sponsored Therapy in Arizona

You should consider looking into Arizona state mental health services if you (or a loved one) are having a mental health crisis, have a severe mental health condition, have Medicaid, or have a limited income.

Everyone in Arizona can use the state-funded mental health emergency response system. If you or someone you love is in crisis, you can call your local crisis line to get the help you need, quickly.

Even if you’re not in crisis, you can call your local mental health hotline for information about affordable mental health services in your area. When you call, you can find out whether you might qualify for state-funded mental health services, schedule an assessment or intake appointment, or get free information about other affordable local providers.

Other parts of the system have stricter eligibility requirements. If you don’t have Medicaid, you need to have a serious mental health condition (a diagnosable condition that affects your daily functioning) to qualify for non-Medicaid public outpatient mental health care in Arizona. However, more people have a qualifying condition than realize it. Don’t assume you’re not eligible!

One of the most important requirements you need to meet to get services at a state-funded mental health program in Arizona is to be a resident of the region it serves.

It’s a great option if you’re a local resident with a public insurance plan. If you qualify for Medicaid, you’re eligible for your region’s public mental health program. All state-funded providers in Arizona accept Medicaid, and it can be hard to find other providers who do.

In fact, most of Arizona’s mental health funding comes from Medicaid, and more people qualify than ever. Arizona accepted Medicaid expansion under a waiver that allows anyone with income of up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify if they also meet the state’s work requirements.

So, it’s worth it to apply for Medicaid if you think you might be eligible and want to access affordable publicly-funded mental health care. You can also qualify if you have a severe mental health condition.

If you’ve recently been hospitalized for mental health reasons or are homeless or chronically unemployed because of a mental health condition, you should call your regional program.

You probably qualify, and they can connect you with specialized services that are designed to help you address these challenges and regain stability while living at home in your local community.

If you qualify, you can also usually find affordable therapy and other basic outpatient mental health services like medication management through your regional mental health program.

You can find the number for your region’s program in the directory below. We encourage you to call even if you think you might not be eligible. Even if you’re not, they can probably still help you.

People who work in the public mental health system are knowledgeable about local resources and will often give you free information or even referrals to other affordable providers nearby, including local non-profits that provide free or low-cost counseling to people who don’t qualify for state-funded services.

The easiest way to learn more about state mental healthcare in Arizona is to call your region’s mental health hotline. Each region has its own independent program, so which services are available and how it works depends on where you live. To find your local number, scroll to the directory below.

Public inpatient psychiatric services at the Arizona State Hospital are managed by the Arizona Department of Health Services. Public outpatient mental health services are primarily managed by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid program. You can reach AHCCCS at (602) 417-4000 or (800) 654-8713.

However, you’ll probably get the best results by calling your regional program directly. You can find the number for your Regional Behavioral Health Authority in the directory below.

Each RBHA or TRBHA is responsible for operating a regional mental health crisis line, managing a network of providers for Medicaid and non-Medicaid public mental health services, and helping people access the public mental health system.

Crisis lines often function as both information and crisis lines, so consider calling one for help if you need mental health services right away.

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another great way to get affordable publicly-funded mental health services in Arizona.

These federally-funded programs provide cutting-edge care in places where good primary healthcare was once hard to find. Most provide integrated care, meaning you can get primary medical and mental health services at the same location.

Each FQHC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers low sliding-scale fees if you don’t have insurance. Their eligibility requirements are generally less strict than the requirements for the state-funded system.

You can search for FQHCs near you by using the online search tool on the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration website.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 44 percent of people in Arizona who have mental health conditions get treatment for them.

You can make a difference by reaching out and connecting with local mental health resources to get the care you need. If you’re not sure whether you qualify for Arizona state mental health services, call your state or local mental health information line. You may find out you can get mental health services through your regional program or that there’s another affordable option nearby.

The most important thing is to get started—the help you need may be only a call or click away.