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

You should consider looking into the Delaware mental health system 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 Delaware can use the state-funded mental health emergency response system. If you or someone you love is in crisis, you can call a state or local crisis line to get the help you need, quickly.

Even if you’re not in crisis, you can call a state or 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.

While there are some services and providers in the Delaware mental health system that have stricter eligibility requirements than others, in general, the public mental health system is pretty accessible. There are no statewide eligibility criteria for public outpatient mental health services in Delaware. Instead, eligibility varies from program to program.

The eligibility requirements for mental health services provided directly by the state of Delaware through their three community mental health centers (CMHCs) are relatively strict. Long-term CMHC services are designated for people with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI)—people whose mental health conditions significantly affect their functioning and put them at risk of psychiatric hospitalization.

The CMHCs are likely to refer you to another provider if you have milder mental health issues or have an “accessible, affordable private health plan.”

The state of Delaware also contracts with private programs to be part of the public mental health provider network.

Eligibility requirements for these programs vary. Which services you can get also depends on where you’re looking. Some programs focus on services for people with serious mental illness, while others serve clients with milder conditions.

Some programs in the public mental health system focus only on therapy and counseling, while others focus on specialty and intensive services. Some comprehensive programs offer both. So, you’ll need to look through the local programs that serve your area to find the right one for you.

You can find contact information for your local public mental health network in the directory section of this article.

The primary way Delaware provides state funding assistance for mental health services is through Medicaid.

Most programs that participate in the Delaware public mental health system accept Medicaid as well as many other insurance plans. If you don’t have insurance, you can often get counseling for reduced fees at many state-funded agencies. Many offer income-based sliding scales.

Even if you don’t qualify for a discount, programs in the public mental health system may still be an affordable option. To find out how fees for state-funded programs compare to fees for other providers in your area, you can call the programs you’re interested in and ask about their payment options.

You can call the Delaware mental health department or a state or local mental health hotline to learn more about how to get help accessing mental health services where you live.

You can call a local mental health program directly to learn more about what services they offer, whether you’re eligible, and whether there’s a waitlist. You can find the numbers for state-funded programs in your area in the directory below.

We encourage you to call even if you’re not sure whether you’re eligible or whether you’ve found the right program. Even if you don’t meet the program’s requirements or they don’t offer the service you want, they can probably still help you.

Community mental health workers 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.

The easiest way to learn more about state mental healthcare in Delaware is to call the program you’re interested in directly. You can find the contact information for programs in your area in the directory in the next section.

There are also many numbers you can call for help no matter where you are in Delaware. You can find the numbers for statewide helplines and hotlines in the information box directly below.

Public mental health services in Delaware are managed on the state level by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) in the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). For general information about the Delaware mental health system, you can contact DSAMH at at (302) 255-9399.

However, you’ll probably get the best results by calling the program you’re interested in directly. You can find contact information for local programs (and local DSAMH offices) in the directory below.

Public outpatient mental health services in Delaware are provided by private agencies that contract with the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH).

You can contact DSAMH’s central office at (302) 255-9399. You can also call a local DSAMH crisis line or state-run CMHC for information about state-funded mental health care in your area.

You can find the contact numbers for local DSAMH programs and hotlines in the directory below, as well as contact information for independent programs that participate in the Delaware public mental health system.

If you need information after hours or aren’t sure whether you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s okay to call a crisis line for help. The staff who answer are trained to quickly figure out what you need and can tell you what steps you need to take to connect with the right services.

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

These federally-funded programs provide cutting-edge care in places where good primary healthcare was once hard to find. Most provide integrated care so 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.

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 49 percent of people in Delaware who have mental health conditions get treatment for them. Many of them qualify for public mental health services but don’t know about 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 Delaware state mental health services, call a local program or a state or local mental health hotline. You may find out you can get mental health services at a state-funded 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.