Your (Unofficial) Guide to State-Sponsored Therapy in Florida
There’s a way to get affordable mental health care that you might not know about. That’s Florida’s mental health system.
If you qualify, you can get mental health care at a community mental health program in Florida for a small co-pay or a low sliding-scale fee. But even if you don’t qualify for services at a state-funded program, Florida’s system can still give you information, local referrals to affordable providers, and other essential help for free.
If you’re in a hurry, you can read our quick start guide below to get the most important information about the Florida mental health system.
Quick Start Guide
Quick facts about Florida’s mental health system:
- Florida’s mental health system has suffered from a lack of funding for decades, which has made Florida one of the lowest ranking states for access to mental health care.
- However, thanks to an unprecedented $2.5 billion funding increase in 2023, that might be about to change, and mental health care may become easier to access statewide.
What services are available?
- Florida’s mental health system offers specialty and intensive mental health services that can be hard to find anywhere else, like case management, day treatment, and community-based services.
- Outpatient mental health services including psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and group and individual therapy are also available at most Florida community mental health programs.
- If you’re eligible, you can cover your care with insurance or cash. Most publicly-funded mental health programs in Florida accept Medicaid and offer low sliding-scale fees to people without insurance coverage.
Who’s eligible?
- Some services, such as state and local crisis and information lines, are available to any Florida resident without exception.
- Most other publicly-funded mental health services in Florida have somewhat strict clinical and financial eligibility requirements.
- However, since the programs that provide state-funded services are independent and not run directly by the state, you can still go to some of them even if you don’t qualify for state aid by paying out of pocket or using your insurance.
- Some services are only available to people who have severe conditions like major depression or schizophrenia. However, more people have one of these conditions than realize it! In fact, 1 in 10 Americans experience major depression each year.
Where can you get started?
To learn more about public mental health services in Florida, keep reading. We’ve done the research to uncover essential facts about who’s eligible, what services you can get, when to go, where to call, and how it works so you can decide if Florida’s mental health system might be right for you.
Who Is Eligible?
You should consider looking into a state-funded Florida mental health program if you (or a loved one) are having a mental health crisis, have a severe mental health condition, are disabled because of your mental health, have Medicaid, or have a limited income.
Everyone in Florida 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.
PRO TIP
Use the State System When You're in Crisis
Public mental health services are usually the best option if you’re having a mental health crisis and need help right away.
State mental health programs are required to provide mental health crisis response services and are one of the fastest ways to get care when you’re having a mental health emergency.
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.
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 get free information about other affordable local providers.
Other parts of the system have stricter eligibility requirements. You need to have a serious mental health condition (a diagnosable condition that affects your daily functioning) to qualify for publicly-funded outpatient mental health care in Florida.
However, more people have a qualifying condition than realize it. Don’t assume you’re not eligible!
PRO TIP
Fast Facts About Eligibility in Florida
Consider reaching out to a state-funded Florida mental health program if you:
- Are having a mental health emergency
- Have Medicaid or don’t have insurance
- Need to get information about affordable providers in your area
- Have a serious mental health condition like major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia that affects your ability to function
- Are or have been involved with the criminal justice system because of a mental illness or while experiencing a mental illness
- Need specialty mental health care like day treatment, case management, wrap-around care, or home-based services
Eligibility criteria depend on the service you want and can vary from program to program, so it’s worth calling the program you’re interested in to confirm what their policies are. To find contact information for programs serving your area, scroll to the directory below.
One of the most important requirements you need to meet to get services at a publicly-funded mental health program in Florida is to be a resident of the region it serves.
You also need to have a serious mental health condition that affects your ability to function. Florida’s mental health system focuses on serving people who have a hard time functioning independently in the community and who are at risk of hospitalization.
Florida’s Mental Health Program Office, a division of the Florida Department of Children and Families, explains its eligibility criteria in detail on the “Who We Serve” section of its “How We Work” webpage.
In short, you’re eligible if you’re in crisis, have a documented long-term psychiatric disability, or are involved with the criminal justice system due to a mental illness.
You can find a detailed description of eligibility requirements for Florida mental health services in the information box below.
DEEP DIVE
State Eligibility Criteria for Mental Health Care in Florida
According to the “Who We Serve” section on the “How We Work” page for Florida’s Mental Health Program Office in the Department of Children and Families (DCF), you’re eligible for state-funded mental health services in Florida if you:
- Are experiencing a men...
According to the “Who We Serve” section on the “How We Work” page for Florida’s Mental Health Program Office in the Department of Children and Families (DCF), you’re eligible for state-funded mental health services in Florida if you:
- Are experiencing a mental health crisis
- Have a serious mental illness that is disabling or potentially disabling
- Are otherwise unable to access mental health care due to your diagnosis or finances
- Have a serious mental illness and are involved with the criminal justice system in Florida
DCF defines “adults in mental health crisis” as “people who are 18 or older who:
- Meet criteria under the Baker Act for admission to a mental health receiving facility; or
- Show evidence of a recent stressful event and significant problems coping with that event.”
DCF defines “adults with severe psychiatric disabilities” as “people who are 18 or older who have a diagnosis or diagnostic impression of a mental disorder [according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM] and meet any of the following criteria:
- Receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Disabled Veteran Income or another type of disability income due to a psychiatric disability; or
- Receives Social Security Income (SSI) for reasons other than a psychiatric disability and has a serious and persistent mental illness; or
- Has documented evidence of a long term psychiatric disability, and does not need, is unable to apply or refuses to apply for disability benefits; or
- Does not receive disability income due to a psychiatric disability but has applied for disability income that is in process due to psychiatric disability or has received such income in the past five (5) years.”
DCF defines “adults with a serious mental illness and forensic (court) involvement” as “people who are over 18 who meet any of the following criteria:
- Have an ‘incompetent to proceed (ITP)’ court order due to mental illness; or
- Have a ‘not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI)’ court order for evaluation of competency or sanity; or
- Are on conditional release due to a mental illness.”
DCF does not specifically define “cannot otherwise access mental health care,” but this likely includes people who have limited incomes and lack insurance or qualify for Medicaid.
You can call your local program or information line to ask if your income or situation qualifies you for state-funded mental health care.
While Florida has somewhat strict criteria for state-funded mental health services, you may still be able to get mental health care from a publicly-funded provider even if you don’t meet those criteria.
Florida does not directly run its own state mental health programs. Instead, it contracts with private programs to provide state-funded mental health services. Programs that agree to participate have to serve clients who meet state criteria, but they may also choose to serve clients who don’t.
Many programs in the public system started out as private non-profits with less restrictive admissions policies and continue to serve people with a wide range of mental health needs.
So, even if you’re not eligible for state funding, you may still be able to get affordable services from a publicly-funded provider if they choose to serve people outside of state-designated eligibility groups. Many of them accept public and private insurance plans and offer sliding-scale rates if you don’t have an insurance plan they accept.
PRO TIP
Check with Your Local Program for Accurate Eligibility Information
One of the most important things to know about the Florida public mental health system is that what services are available and who’s eligible vary from program to program.
The programs that participate in the Florida mental health system aren’t limited to accepting clients who meet state eligibility criteria. It’s up to each program to decide whether they also admit clients who don’t qualify for state funding by letting them pay a sliding-scale fee or use insurance.
Some programs admit a wider range of clients than the groups outlined in DCF policy, while some limit their services even further to very specific populations. It depends on the program, what their focus is, and how their funding and staffing levels are at the time.
You can find out whether a program might be right for you by looking up their contact information in the directory below and calling them or exploring their website.
Most, but not all state-funded programs in Florida have financial eligibility requirements. Most accept Medicaid and offer sliding-scale fees if you don’t have (or can’t use) insurance and have limited funds. Some accept private insurance and offer you the option to pay in full if you don’t qualify for a payment reduction.
If you don’t qualify for state financial assistance, going to a publicly-funded provider in Florida is the same as going to any other provider: you’ll either pay for services with your insurance or pay out of pocket. So, you’ll find the most affordable option by looking for providers who accept your insurance or who offer good sliding-scale discounts.
Not all publicly-funded programs have better rates than other community counseling providers. So, it’s important to compare the rates of publicly-funded programs, private non-profits, and integrated clinics if you don’t qualify for state financial assistance. Your best option will depend on what each program charges and where you can find the therapist or service that’s the best match for you.
While many private providers offer outpatient mental health services like therapy and medication, not all of them offer specialty and intensive services like case management or psychosocial rehabilitation. So, you’ll need to look for specialty providers who do. Many are part of the public mental health system.
PRO TIP
Check Out the State System If You Need Specialized Services
Publicly-funded mental health programs in Florida are great places to find specialized and intensive mental health services like case management and day treatment that can be hard to find anywhere else. These specialty programs can give you extra help when you’re dealing with severe symptoms.
You can find the numbers for state-funded mental health programs in Florida in the directory below. We encourage you to call even if you think you might not be eligible.
Even if you’re not eligible, or if the program doesn’t offer the service you want, they can probably still help you. The people who work in these programs 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.
Where Do You Call to Get Started?
The best way to learn more about state-funded mental health services in Florida is to call a local mental health program or 2-1-1 mental health crisis and information hotline.
Florida’s 2-1-1 hotlines are managed by 11 different regional programs. You can call 2-1-1 from anywhere in Florida to connect to the hotline closest to you. The 11 regional organizations are:
- 211 Northwest Florida
- 211 Big Bend
- 211 Northeast Florida
- 211 Brevard
- 211 North Central Florida
- 211 Heart of Florida
- 211 Tampa Bay
- Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
- 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast
- 211 of Glades, Lee, and Hendry
- 211 Suncoast Cares
- 211 Broward
- 211 Miami
You can find which programs serve your county or city by scrolling to the directory in the next section.
For general mental health help or information, you can also call one of the statewide information, crisis, or support lines listed directly below.
PRO TIP
Important Numbers in Florida
The statewide Florida mental health crisis hotline is 988.
The Crisis Text Line for the state of Florida is 741741.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline is 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).
You can reach the non-emergency NAMI Florida Helpline by calling (850) 671-4445.
To get help connecting with mental health programs and other resources in your area, you can call Florida 2-1-1 or visit one of their websites. In Florida, 2-1-1 also serves as a mental health crisis line.
You can speak with a peer from 4pm to 7pm every day of the week, including holidays, by calling the Florida Warmline at (800) 945-1355.
The number for the Florida Department of Children and Families is (850) 487-1111. You can reach their Customer Service Center at (850) 300-4323.
Public mental health services in Florida are managed on the state level by the Florida Department of Children and Families. For general information about Florida’s system, you can contact them at (850) 487-1111.
However, you’ll probably get the best results by calling your local program or 2-1-1 hotline directly. You can find the listings for your local programs and hotlines in the directory below.
Regional Program Directory
There are seven regional organizations in Florida called “managing entities” that work with DCF to coordinate local mental health services and decide which programs are part of the public system.
These managing entities, as well as the 11 regional programs that oversee the regional 2-1-1 mental health crisis and information hotlines, serve as important points of contact when you’re trying to find out where to go to find affordable mental health services in your region.
Each region also has at least one mental health program that operates its own crisis line. You can find contact information for your region’s managing entity, 2-1-1 provider, and local mental health programs in the directory below.
(Note that no matter who your managing entity and 2-1-1 provider might be, calling 2-1-1 from anywhere in Florida will connect you with local mental health crisis and information services.)
Florida Clinics and Crisis Lines
Northwest Florida Community Mental Health Centers and Crisis Lines
- Managing Entity for Northwest Florida:
- Northwest Florida Health Network (Serving Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties)
- 2-1-1 Regional Hotlines for Northwest Florida:
- 2-1-1 Northwest Florida (Serving Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington Counties)
- 2-1-1 Big Bend (Serving Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla Counties)
- Community Mental Health Programs Serving Adults in Northwest Florida:
- Apalachee Center (Serving Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla Counties): (850) 523-3333 or (800) 342-0774 (crisis line)
- Bridgeway Center (Serving Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties): (850) 833-7500
- Chemical Addictions Recovery Effort (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington Counties): (850) 872-7676
- Children’s Home Society Counseling Program (Serving Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties): (321) 397-3000 or (386) 872-2254 (crisis line)
- Chrysalis Health (Serving Bay, Escambia, Jackson, and Leon Counties): (888) 587-0335 (main number) or (888) 587-0335 (crisis line)
- DISC Village (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla Counties): (850) 575-4388
- Families First of Florida (Serving Bay and Leon Counties): (813) 290-8560
- Florida Springs Wellness and Recovery Center (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions in Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington Counties): (850) 403-6566
- HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital Outpatient Services (Serving Okaloosa and Walton Counties): (850) 315-8009
- Lakeview Center (Serving Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties): (850) 432-1222 or (850) 469-3500 (appointments) or (866) 517-7766 (crisis line)
- Life Management Center (Serving Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington Counties): (850) 522-4485 (main number) or (850) 522-4485 (crisis line)
- PanCare of Florida (Serving Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Walton, and Washington Counties): (850) 747-5272
North Central and Northeast Florida Community Mental Health Centers and Crisis Lines
- Managing Entity for North Central and Northwest Florida:
- Lutheran Services of Florida Health Systems (Serving Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lake, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, and Volusia Counties)
- 2-1-1 Regional Hotlines for North Central and Northeast Florida:
- 2-1-1 Brevard (Serving Brevard, Flagler, and Volusia Counties)
- 2-1-1 Broward (Serving Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, and Union Counties)
- 2-1-1 Northeast Florida (Serving Baker, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, and Suwannee Counties)
- 2-1-1 Heart of Florida (Serving Collier, Citrus, De Soto, Hardee, Highlands, Lake, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, and Sumter Counties)
- 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares (Serving Hernando and Pinellas Counties)
- Community Mental Health Programs Serving Adults in North and Northeast Florida:
- Aging True Mental Wellness Program (Serving seniors in Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties): (904) 807-1203
- Alachua County Crisis Center (Serving Alachua County): (352) 264-6785 (crisis line)
- BayCare Behavioral Health Services (Serving Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk Counties): (877) 850-9613 (main number) or (727) 372-4357 (Pasco County Crisis Line) or (352) 467-6529 (Hernando County Crisis Line)
- Bethany Christian Services of Florida (Serving Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties): (800) 238-4269
- Brooks Rehabilitation Behavioral Medicine Program (Serving Duval County): (904) 345-7210
- Children’s Home Society Counseling Program (Serving Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Hernando, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia Counties): (321) 397-3000 or (386) 872-2254 (crisis line)
- Child Guidance Center Outpatient Services (Serving Duval County): (904) 448-4700 or (904) 982-4911 (crisis line)
- Chrysalis Health (Serving Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee, Union, and Volusia Counties): (888) 587-0335 (main number) or (888) 587-0335 (crisis line)
- Clay Behavioral Health Center (Serving Clay County): (904) 291-5561 or (904) 291-4357 (crisis line)
- Community Rehabilitation Center (Serving Duval County): (904) 358-1211
- Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health (Serving Flagler and Volusia Counties): (800) 338-3738 x 176422 (main number) or (386) 738-5543 (outpatient program)
- Dupont Counseling Group (Serving Duval County): (904) 394-5706
- Epic Behavioral Health (Serving St. Johns County): (904) 829-2273
- Flagler Health Behavioral Health Services (Serving Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns Counties): (904) 819-4040 or (904) 819-5204 (crisis center)
- Gateway (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Duval and Nassau Counties): (877) 389-9966
- Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (Serving Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia Counties): (727) 479-1800
- Halifax Health Adult Behavioral Services (Serving Flagler and Volusia Counties): (877) 842-5432
- Here Tomorrow Mental Health Collaborative (Serving Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns Counties): (904) 372-9087
- The House Next Door (Serving Flagler and Volusia Counties): (386) 734-7571 or (386) 738-9169
- Impower Florida (Serving Brevard and Volusia Counties): (407) 215-0095 (main number) or (321) 639-1224, option 2 (appointments)
- Inspire to Rise (Serving Duval County): (844) 937-4731
- LifeStream Behavioral Center (Serving Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Orange, Marion, and Sumter Counties): (352) 315-7500 (main number) or (866) 355-9394 (crisis line)
- Mental Health Resource Center (Serving Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, and Nassau Counties): (904) 695-9145 (main number) or (904) 695-9145 (MHRC North crisis line) or (904) 642-9100 (MHRC South crisis line)
- Meridian Behavioral Healthcare (Serving Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union Counties): (352) 374-5600 (main number) or (352) 374-5600, option 1 (crisis line)
- Northwest Behavioral Health Services (Serving Duval and Nassau Counties): (904) 781-7797 (main number) or (833) 987-2862 (crisis line)
- Operation PAR (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Hernando County): (727) 545-7564 (main number) or (888) 727-6398 (24-hour helpline)
- Outreach Community Care Network (Serving Volusia County): (386) 255-5569
- Quality Life Center (Serving Duval and Nassau Counties): (904) 398-2020
- River Region Human Services (Serving Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns Counties): (904) 899-6300
- SMA Healthcare (Serving Flagler, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia Counties): (800) 539-4228 (main number) or (800) 539-4228 (crisis line)
- Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare (Serving Nassau County): (904) 225-8280 (main number) or (904) 206-1756 (crisis line)
- Sulzbacher Housing and Healthcare (Serving Duval County): (904) 394-1656 (Downtown Behavioral Health) or (904) 224-3550 (Beaches Behavioral Health)
Central Florida Community Mental Health Centers and Crisis Lines
- Managing Entity for Central Florida:
- Central Florida Cares Health System (Serving Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties)
- 2-1-1 Regional Hotlines for Central Florida:
- 2-1-1 Brevard (Serving Brevard, Flagler, and Volusia Counties)
- 2-1-1 Heart of Florida (Serving Collier, Citrus, De Soto, Hardee, Highlands, Lake, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, and Sumter Counties)
- Community Mental Health Programs Serving Adults in Central Florida:
- Aspire Health Partners (Serving Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties): (407) 875-3700
- Brevard C.A.R.E.S. Family Counseling Program (Serving Brevard County): (321) 632-2737 or (321) 213-0315 (crisis line)
- Children’s Home Society (Serving Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties): (321) 397-3000 or (386) 872-2254 (crisis line)
- Chrysalis Health (Serving Orange County): (888) 587-0335 (main number) or (888) 587-0335 (crisis line)
- Circles of Care (Serving Brevard County): (321) 722-5200 (main number) or (321) 890-1550 (Access Line)
- Community Counseling Center of Central Florida (Serving Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties): (407) 291-8009
- Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health (Serving Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties): (800) 338-3738 x 176422 (main number) or (321) 207-8307 (outpatient program) or (407) 839-4357 (crisis line)
- Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (Serving Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties): (727) 479-1800
- Impower Florida (Serving Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties): (407) 215-0095 (main number) or (321) 639-1224, option 2 (appointments)
- Legacy Behavioral Health Center (Serving Brevard County): (888) 975-3422
- LifeStream Behavioral Center (Serving Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties): (352) 315-7500
- Mental Health Association of Central Florida’s Outlook Clinic (Serving Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties): (407) 898-0110
- Mental Health Resource Center (Serving Brevard, Orange, and Osceola Counties): (904) 695-9145 (main number) or (904) 695-9145 (MHRC North crisis line) or (904) 642-9100 (MHRC South crisis line)
- Park Place Behavioral Healthcare (Serving Osceola County): (407) 846-0023 (main number) or (844) 943-7348 (crisis line)
- University Behavioral Center (Serving Orange County): (407) 281-7000 (main number) or (407) 281-7000 (crisis line)
Sun Coast Community Mental Health Centers and Crisis Lines
- Managing Entity for the Sun Coast:
- Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (Serving Charlotte, Collier, De Soto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties)
- 2-1-1 Regional Hotlines for the Sun Coast:
- 2-1-1 Heart of Florida (Serving Collier, Citrus, De Soto, Hardee, Highlands, Lake, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, and Sumter Counties)
- 2-1-1 of Glades, Lee, and Hendry (Serving Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties)
- 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares (Serving Hernando and Pinellas Counties)
- Crisis Center of Tampa Bay (Serving Charlotte and Hillsborough Counties)
- Community Mental Health Programs Serving Adults on the Sun Coast:
- BayCare Behavioral Health(Serving Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk Counties): (877) 850-9613 (main number) or (727) 372-4357 (Pasco County Crisis Line) or (352) 467-6529 (Hernando County Crisis Line)
- Boley Centers (Serving Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota Counties): (727) 821-4819
- Catholic Charities of Florida, Diocese of St. Petersburg Mental Health Services (Serving Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties): (813) 631-4370
- Catholic Charities of Florida, Diocese of Venice (Serving Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties): (888) 249-9262
- The Center for Progress and Excellence (Serving Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties): (239) 689-8490 or (844) 395-4432 (crisis line)
- Centerstone (Serving Glades, Hendry, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties): (941) 782-4150 or (941) 720-5014 (crisis line)
- Charlotte Behavioral Health Care (Serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Lee, and Sarasota Counties): (941) 639-8300 (main number) or (877) 703-5267 (toll-free) or (844) 395-4432 (crisis line)
- Chrysalis Health (Serving Hillsborough County): (888) 587-0335 (main number) or (888) 587-0335 (crisis line)
- Cove Behavioral Health (Serving Hillsborough, Polk, and surrounding counties): (813) 384-4000
- Crisis Center of Tampa Bay (Serving Charlotte and Hillsborough Counties): (813) 964-1964
- Crossroads Behavioral Health Center (Serving Collier, Glades, and Hendry Counties): (239) 692-1020
- David Lawrence Center (Serving Collier County): (239) 455-8500 (main number) or (239) 455-8500 (crisis line)
- Directions for Living (Serving Pinellas County): (727) 524-4464
- Gracepoint (Serving Hillsborough County): (813) 272-2244 (main number) or (813) 272-2958 (crisis line)
- Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (Serving Charlotte, Collier, De Soto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties): (727) 479-1800
- Jewish Family and Children’s Service of the Sun Coast (Serving Charlotte, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties): (941) 366-2224
- Lee Health Behavioral Health Center (Serving Lee County): (239) 343-9180
- Lightshare Wellness (Serving Charlotte, Lee, and Sarasota Counties): (941) 732-6837 (main number) or (941) 732-6837 (crisis line)
- Mental Health Resource Center (Serving Collier, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Polk Counties): (904) 695-9145 (main number) or (904) 695-9145 (MHRC North crisis line) or (904) 642-9100 (MHRC South crisis line)
- Northside Behavioral Health Center (Serving Hillsborough County and the Suncoast Region): (813) 977-8700
- Operation PAR (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Charlotte, Hernando, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota Counties): (888) 727-6398
- Peace River Center (Serving Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties): (863) 519-3744 (main number) or (863) 248-3311 (outpatient services) or (863) 519-3744 (crisis line)
- Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services (Serving Pinellas County): (727) 545-6477 (main number) or (727) 541-4628 (24-hour mental health information line) or (727) 791-3131 (24-hour crisis line)
- SalusCare (Serving Lee County): (239) 275-3222 (main number) or (239) 275-4242 (crisis line)
- Success 4 Kids and Families (Serving Hillsborough County): (813) 490-5490
- Suncoast Center (Serving Pinellas County): (727) 388-1220
- Tri-County Human Services (Serving Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties): (863) 709-9392
Southeast Florida Community Mental Health Centers and Crisis Lines
- Managing Entity for Southeast Florida:
- Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network (Serving Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and Saint Lucie Counties)
- 2-1-1 Regional Hotline for Southeast Florida:
- 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast (Serving Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and Saint Lucie Counties)
- Community Mental Health Programs Serving Adults in Southeast Florida:
- Catholic Charities of Palm Beach Counseling Services (Serving Martin and Palm Beach Counties): (844) 848-6777
- Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County (Serving Palm Beach County): (561) 616-1222
- Chrysalis Health(Serving Broward and Palm Beach Counties): (888) 587-0335 (main number) or (888) 587-0335 (crisis line)
- Community Partners of South Florida (Serving Palm Beach County): (561) 841-3500
- Faulk Center for Counseling (Serving Broward County, Palm Beach County, and South Florida): (561) 483-5300
- Henderson Behavioral Health (Serving Broward, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and Saint Lucie Counties): (954) 530-0714 (Scheduling) or (954) 463-0911 (crisis line)
- Jewish Family Service of Palm Beach County (Serving Palm Beach County): (561) 684-1991
- JFK North Hospital Behavioral Health Center (Serving Palm Beach County): (561) 881-2601 (main number) or (561) 863-3998 (outpatient program)
- Legacy Behavioral Health Center (Serving Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and Saint Lucie Counties): (888) 975-3422
- Memorial Healthcare System Outpatient Program (Serving Palm Beach County): (954) 276-3400
- Mental Health Association in Indian River County (Serving Indian River County): (772) 569-9788
- Multilingual Psychotherapy Centers, Inc. (Serving Palm Beach County): (561) 712-8821 (West Palm Beach) or (561) 253-3679 (Belle Glade) or (561) 712-8960 (Lantana)
- Neuro Behavioral Hospitals of Palm Beach (Serving Palm Beach County): (561) 299-4305
- New Horizons (Serving Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and Saint Lucie Counties): (772) 468-5600 (main number) or (772) 672-8470 (crisis line)
- RiteLife Services Inc. (Serving Okeechobee and Saint Lucie Counties): (863) 623-4270
- Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services (Serving South Palm Beach County): (561) 852-3333
- South County Mental Health Center(Serving South Palm Beach County): (561) 495-0522 or (561) 637-2102 (crisis line)
- Wayside House (Serving women with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Martin and Palm Beach Counties): (561) 278-0055
Broward County Community Mental Health Centers and Crisis Lines
- Managing Entity for Broward County:
- Broward Behavioral Health Coalition (Serving Broward County)
- 2-1-1 Regional Hotline for Broward County:
- 2-1-1 Broward (Serving Broward County)
- Community Mental Health Programs Serving Adults in Broward County:
- Agency for Community Treatment Services Inc. (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Broward County): (813) 246-4899
- Archways Inc. (Serving Broward County): (954) 763-2030
- Banyan Health Systems (Serving Broward County): (954) 327-4060 or (305) 774-3600 (crisis unit)
- Broward County Addiction Recovery Center (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Broward County): (954) 357-4880
- Broward Health Behavioral Health Services (Serving Broward County): (954) 335-4400 (Broward Health Medical Center) or (954) 776-8500 (Broward Health Imperial Point)
- Broward House Mental Health Services (Serving Broward County): (954) 568-7373 x2200
- Broward Partnership’s Behavioral Health Program (Serving Broward County): (954) 779-3990
- Care Resource Behavioral Health Services (Serving Broward County): (305) 576-1234 (Miami) or (954) 567-7141 (Oakland Park)
- Catholic Charities of Miami Behavioral Health Services (Serving Broward and Miami-Dade Counties): (866) 758-0025
- Chrysalis Health(Serving Broward County): (888) 587-0335 (main number) or (888) 587-0335 (crisis line)
- Citrus Health Network (Serving Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties): (305) 825-0300 or (305) 823-0800 (after hours)
- Evolutions Treatment Center Mental Health Programs (Serving Broward and Miami-Dade Counties): (833) 818-3031
- Faulk Center for Counseling (Serving Broward County, Palm Beach County, and South Florida): (561) 483-5300
- Fellowship House (Serving Broward County): (954) 890-0540
- Fort Lauderdale Behavioral Health Center (Serving Broward County): (954) 734-2000 or (954) 734-2001 (crisis line)
- Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (Serving Broward and Miami-Dade Counties): (727) 479-1800
- Henderson Behavioral Health (Serving Broward and Palm Beach Counties): (954) 530-0714 (Scheduling) or (954) 463-0911 (crisis line)
- House of Hope (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Broward County): (954) 524-8989
- Kids in Distress Family Counseling Center (Serving Broward County): (954) 390-7654 x1341
- Memorial Healthcare System Outpatient Program (Serving Broward County): (954) 276-3400
- Multicultural Alliance Health Care Solutions (Serving Broward County): (954) 514-7569
- Pickett Fences Behavioral Health Case Management (Serving Broward County): (954) 486-8878
- Regional Management Care Inc. Adult Case Management (Serving Broward County): (954) 474-7373
- Smith Community Mental Health (Serving Broward County): (954) 321-2296
- SunServe Mental Health and Counseling (Serving Broward County): (954) 764-5150
South Florida Community Mental Health Centers and Crisis Lines
- Managing Entity for South Florida:
- Thriving Mind South Florida (Serving Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties)
- 2-1-1 Regional Hotline for South Florida:
- 2-1-1 Miami (Serving Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties)
- Community Mental Health Programs Serving Adults in South Florida:
- Agape Network (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 235-2616
- Banyan Health Systems (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 774-3300 or (305) 774-3600 (crisis unit)
- Better Way of Miami (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Miami-Dade County): (305) 634-3409
- Camillus House Treatment Services (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Miami-Dade County): (305) 374-1065
- Catholic Charities of Miami Behavioral Health Services (Serving Broward and Miami-Dade Counties): (866) 758-0025
- Center for Family and Child Enrichment Behavioral Health Program (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 624-7450
- Chrysalis Health(Serving Miami-Dade County): (888) 587-0335 (main number) or (888) 587-0335 (crisis line)
- Citrus Health Network (Serving Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties): (305) 825-0300 or (305) 823-0800 (after hours)
- Community Health of South Florida (Serving Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties): (305) 252-4820 (main number) or (305) 253-5100 (after hours)
- Concept Health Systems, Inc. (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 751-6501 x6405
- Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 531-5341
- Fellowship House (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 667-1036
- Guidance/Care Center (Serving Monroe County): (305) 434-7660 or (305) 434-7660 x8 (crisis line)
- Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (Serving Broward and Miami-Dade Counties): (727) 479-1800
- Jackson Community Mental Health Center (Serving northern Miami-Dade County): (786) 466-2800
- Jackson Health System Behavioral Health and Psychiatry (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 355-7147
- Jessie Trice Community Health System Behavioral Health Services (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 637-6400
- Jewish Community Services of South Florida (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 576-6550
- Lower Keys Medical Center Behavioral Health Services (Serving Monroe County): (305) 293-1249
- Lotus House Therapeutic and Supportive Services (Serving women in Miami-Dade County): (305) 438-0556
- Memorial Healthcare System Outpatient Program (Serving Miami-Dade County): (954) 276-3400
- New Hope CORPS Outpatient Program (Serving people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions in Miami-Dade County): (786) 243-1003
- New Horizons Community Mental Health Center (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 635-7444
- Passageway Adult Mental Health (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 635-9106
- WestCare/The Village South (Serving Miami-Dade County): (305) 573-3784 or (800) 435-7968 (crisis line)
It’s important to note that some local crisis lines are staffed 24 hours a day, while others have limited hours.
If you need information after hours or aren’t sure whether you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s okay to call a regional 211 crisis line or the statewide 988 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.
You can also go to DCF’s online search page for mental health programs or your managing entity’s website (listed above) for an updated list of publicly-funded mental health providers in your region.
Also Consider: Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another great way to get affordable publicly-funded mental health services in Florida.
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. Their eligibility requirements are less strict than the requirements for the rest of the Florida state mental health system. You can search for FQHCs near you by using the online search tool on the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration website.
Troubleshooting Guide
The state mental health system is complicated and can be confusing to navigate. If you’re having any issues, we’re here to help. Here are some of our solutions to common problems you might experience.
Problems and Solutions
1. You can’t get through to someone on the phone.
Except in extremely rare circumstances, someone should answer a state or local crisis line any time you call. But if you’re not in crisis, the person you talked to gave you another number to call, and you’re having a hard time getting through, you can try going to a walk-in center instead.
Many publicly-funded mental health programs in Florida run walk-in centers where you can be seen during regular business hours on Monday through Friday. Some let you walk in and wait without an appointment. You can often be seen the same day. If the wait is long or they don’t have availability, you can schedule an appointment and come back.
We recommend checking your local program’s website for clinic locations and hours.
2. There’s a long waiting list.
State-funded services are often in high demand. Florida is working to shorten waiting times and make sure you can get seen for essential services right away. However, if you’re not in crisis, you may still have to wait before you can be seen by a therapist or other mental health provider.
Sometimes, it’s worth it to wait if you’ve found a good therapist or service. You can read our article on what to do before your first therapy session for tips on how to maintain your mental health while you wait.
If your symptoms are getting worse and you’re worried you can’t wait, you should call a crisis line. The caring people who answer can help you figure out if you need help right away and tell you where and how to get the level of care you need.
If you’re not in crisis but don’t want to wait, you can call an intake worker, the main number, or your contact person at the agency to ask if there are other options. There may be another affordable local program they could tell you about that could meet your needs but has a shorter waiting list.
3. You’re not eligible for state-funded services.
If you’re not eligible for publicly-funded mental health services in Florida, you’re not eligible for the service you want, or your local program doesn’t offer that service, the people who work there should still be able to help you.
Intake workers usually keep lists of affordable local mental health resources for people who aren’t eligible or would prefer to go somewhere else. Ask for information, a printed resource list, or even a direct referral to another provider.
4. The state system doesn’t offer the service you want.
State mental health programs sometimes have to change or limit the services they offer based on their current funding. If you’re admitted to a community mental health program but it doesn’t offer the service you need, you have two options.
One is to try an alternative service that they do offer. The other is to ask if they can recommend an affordable alternative provider who does offer that service.
If they do offer the service you want, but it’s limited, stand up for yourself if they try to get you to do something else. Don’t accept getting pushed into something you don’t want just because it’s easier for them or because they can get you in faster.
If you’re willing and able to wait, tell them you would prefer to wait for the service you want, whether that’s therapy, medication, or something else.
5. You don’t like your therapist.
You should never accept bad therapy—or bad mental healthcare of any kind—for any reason. This is just as true in the public system as it is anywhere else. If you have a bad therapist, ask for a new one. Tell your main contact person at the agency, an intake worker, or a manager that you want to try a different therapist.
If you’re not sure whether you have a bad therapist, you can read our articles on how to spot an unethical therapist and how to do a background check on a therapist. If you don’t like your therapist but wonder if it the problem might be fixable, you can read our articles, “What If I Don’t Like My Therapist?” and “How to Fix Problems with Your Therapist.”
If you don’t like the first therapist you’re assigned, ask someone at the agency if they have a webpage or list of therapists you can review. You can read their bios and see if you think one might be a better match. Not all agencies do this, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. You can read our article on how to choose a therapist for information on what to look for.
If you’ve run into a problem that we haven’t addressed, don’t give up. Call someone at the program (or a local mental health hotline) and tell them what’s going on.
You’re much more likely to get the help you need when you advocate for yourself and are persistent. Tell the person you talk to what you need or what problem you’re having.
If they don’t help the first time, call them back and tell them. If you keep calling and keep calm and focused, you should eventually get through to someone who can help you.
Deep Dive: How Does the System Work?
To understand Florida’s mental health system, it helps to understand how it started and how it’s changed since then.
Public mental health services have been around for a surprisingly long time. But for over a hundred years in America, the only way to get them was in a psychiatric hospital.
In the 1960s, Americans started thinking differently about mental health care. Conditions in psychiatric hospitals were getting worse and new medications made it possible to provide mental health treatment on an outpatient basis.
In response, new laws were passed that required state and local governments to establish community mental health programs as alternatives to institutionalization for people with serious mental illness. The most important was the Community Mental Health Act, which President John F. Kennedy signed into law in 1963.
DEEP DIVE
For More Information
To learn more about what the public mental health system was like in the early days—and how psychiatric inpatient care has evolved since then—you can read our article “Do Insane Asylums Still Exist? The Surprising Past and Present.”
To learn more about what inpatient mental health treatment is like now, and the differences between how it works in general hospitals and specialized psychiatric facilities, you can read our article “How Inpatient Mental Health Treatment Works.”
Many state mental health programs trace their origins back to the 1960s when these important changes started to happen. Florida is no exception.
After Congress passed the Community Mental Health Act in 1963, the Florida legislature passed its own Community Mental Health Act in 1970, creating the administrative and financial basis to establish community mental health centers across the state.
In 1971, the state legislature passed the Florida Mental Health Act, also known as the Baker Act, which was one of the first laws to clarify when and how a person could be committed to inpatient treatment involuntarily.
Despite its visionary legislation, Florida struggled to organize and maintain its mental health system over the following decades and started lagging behind other states in access to mental health care.
In a 2007 report, the Florida Supreme Court wrote that Florida “never established a comprehensive network of community mental health services,” resulting “in a fragmented continuum of care… and disparities in access to care.”
DEEP DIVE
What Is the Structure of the Florida Mental Heath System?
Florida’s public mental health system is governed regionally. The state agency for behavioral health programs in Florida, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), oversees seven organizations that administer and plan mental health programs in the regions they cover.
Each of the seven regional organizations makes independent decisions about its mental health system. These seven “managing entities” decide which mental health programs in their region participate in the public system and receive DCF funds. They also coordinate service delivery and hold mental health agencies accountable for the kind and quality of services they deliver.
The result of this decentralized system is that DCF-funded programs are not uniform in their distribution, the services they provide, or their eligibility requirements. As Florida’s system has been completely privatized, all of these are independent programs who may choose to serve people who aren’t eligible for state-funded services. However, programs that are funded by DCF must serve clients who meet eligibility requirements for state services.
Over the years, limited funding for the Florida mental health system—and the resulting lack of access to mental health care—has put pressure on jails and local emergency departments to respond to people who are having mental health crises.
The Florida Supreme Court’s 2007 mental health report noted that jails have become “the asylums of the new millennium” as an increasing number of people with mental illness end up being treated inside of jails instead of hospitals or community programs.
The December 2020 report of the Florida Statewide Grand Jury reaffirmed these conclusions, stating that the Florida system is composed of a “patchwork of interlocking, often conflicting sources of care.” A 2021 report said the Florida system continued to suffer from “enormous gaps in treatment.”
Fortunately, Florida may finally be reversing these trends. In July 2023, the Florida legislature approved a historically significant mental health budget increase of $2.5 billion. That included the first increase in Medicaid rates for behavioral health in 20 years as well as increased funding for community mental health programs and crisis response services.
DEEP DIVE
The Continuum of Care in the Florida Mental Health System
Many publicly-funded Florida mental health programs offer therapy, medication, and other basic outpatient services. However, their focus is usually on specialty and intensive services.
The public mental health system primarily serves as a safety net to help people who are at risk of hospitalization regain or maintain their psychiatric stability while living at home.
Services offered in the Florida mental health system that can help people do that include:
- Case management
- Crisis intervention
- Crisis stabilization
- Inpatient treatment
- Outpatient treatment
- Therapy and medication
- Community-based support services
- Day treatment and partial hospitalization
- Supportive housing and employment
- Clubhouse and peer support services
- Assertive community treatment
- Psychosocial rehabilitation
Not all publicly-funded programs offer all of these services, though all of these services can usually be found within any of Florida’s seven mental health regions. According to DCF, “the kinds and amounts of publicly funded mental health services available in an area are limited by the amount of funding available in that area.”
Public mental health services in Florida are overseen on the state level by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
However, each region’s managing entity decides how its program works, including how to distribute state mental health funds received from DCF and which programs are part of the state-funded system.
You can learn more about how mental health services work in your region by calling a regional or local mental health hotline. They know how the system works and will help you get where you need to go.
Conclusion
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 39 percent of people in Florida 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 Florida state mental health services, call a state or local crisis or information line. You may find out you can get mental health services through a publicly-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.