Your (Unofficial) Guide to State-Sponsored Therapy in Georgia
There’s a way to get affordable mental health care that you might not know about. That’s Georgia’s mental health system.
If you qualify, you can get mental health care at a community mental health program for a small co-pay or a low sliding-scale fee. But even if you don’t qualify for services at a state-funded provider, Georgia’s system can still give you information, referrals to affordable providers, and other essential help for free.
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If you’re in a hurry and want to get the most crucial information about what’s available at your local mental health program and who it’s for, you can read our quick start guide below.
Quick Start Guide
Quick facts about Georgia’s mental health system:
- Georgia recently passed laws expanding access to mental health care for state residents and is working on expanding funding and workforce recruitment for its public mental health system.
- Georgia’s community service boards (CSBs) are the backbone of Georgia’s public mental health system, providing a range of critical community-based mental health services throughout the state.
- Georgia’s public mental health system also includes community Medicaid providers and specialty mental health providers.
- All CSBs and other public mental health providers are overseen and managed by six regional mental health offices run by Georgia’s mental health department.
- All Georgia CSBs accept Medicaid and Medicare and offer low sliding-scale fees to people without insurance or without adequate mental health coverage.
What services are available?
- Georgia’s mental health system offers specialty and intensive mental health services that can be hard to find anywhere else, like case management and day treatment.
- Outpatient mental health services including psychiatric evaluation, medication, and group and individual therapy are also available at most Georgia CSBs.
Who’s eligible?
- Some services, such as state and local crisis and information lines, are available to any Georgia resident without exception.
- You’re eligible for a wide range of publicly-funded mental health services in Georgia if you have Medicaid, a limited income, or a mental health condition that impacts your functioning.
- 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?
- You can get crisis support and information about local mental health services by calling the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at (800) 715-4225.
- You can find local non-emergency mental health information lines (as well as local crisis lines) by scrolling to the directory below.
To learn more about public mental health services in Georgia, 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 Georgia’s mental health system might be right for you.
Who Is Eligible?
The Georgia public mental health system can meet many people’s needs, but you should especially consider looking into it 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 Georgia 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.
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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 state and local 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 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 get information about other affordable local providers.
Other parts of the system have stricter eligibility requirements. You need to have a diagnosable mental health condition that affects your daily functioning to qualify for some publicly-funded mental health services in Georgia. However, more people have a qualifying condition than realize it. Don’t assume you’re not eligible!
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Fast Facts About Eligibility in Georgia
To be eligible for adult mental health services at a Georgia CSB, you must have a mental health condition listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) that affects your ability to function. Conditions listed in the DSM include:
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
- Bipolar disorder, depression, and other mood disorders
- Panic disorder, generalized anxiety, and other anxiety disorders
The Georgia mental health system gives you priority if you have a serious or severe mental health condition. You’re more likely to qualify if you’ve experienced (or are at risk of) any of the following because of a mental health condition:
- Homelessness
- Arrest or incarceration
- Psychiatric hospitalization
- Chronic unemployment or disability
However, if you have a mild to moderate mental health condition that has affected your functioning in any way, you may still be able to receive counseling services at your local CSB if there are spaces available and your CSB has not had to restrict eligibility because of current funding.
If you’re not sure whether you qualify for therapy or other mental health services at your local CSB, you can call and talk to intake staff who can provide more information over the phone or set up an in-person eligibility and intake assessment. To find your program’s number, scroll to the directory below.
One of the most important requirements you need to meet to get services at a CSB in Georgia is to be a resident of the region it serves. You also need to have a mental health condition.
In general, Georgia’s system prioritizes access for people with severe symptoms or conditions. So, if you have been hospitalized, homeless, or involved with the criminal justice system because of a mental health condition, you should call your local CSB. Their specialized services can help you address these challenges and get the support you need to regain stability.
However, if you haven’t experienced any of these issues and don’t have a severe mental illness, you may still qualify for CSB services if your local program has the funding and the staff to offer mental health services to a wider range of people.
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Check Out the State System If You Need Specialized Services
Community service boards in Georgia 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 services can give you extra help when you’re dealing with severe symptoms.
Most Georgia CSBs provide affordable therapy and other basic outpatient mental health services like medication. Some that have the funding offer them to anyone with a mental health condition that’s affecting the quality of their daily life.
If you meet your CSB’s clinical eligibility requirements, you don’t have to meet separate financial eligibility requirements to get services there. However, if you have low or no income or otherwise qualify due to your condition or circumstances, you may be able to get special state funding and receive CSB services for free or for a significantly reduced rate.
Otherwise, you can pay for services using insurance or by paying out of pocket. Most Georgia CSBs accept Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, and they also offer affordable sliding-scale fees if you don’t have insurance or don’t have the coverage you need.
If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, we encourage you to call. You can find the number for your CSB in the directory below.
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Check with Your CSB for Accurate Local Eligibility Information
One of the most important things to know about the Georgia mental health system is not all CSBs are alike. While all Georgia CSBs are managed by the state mental health department, they operate independently, and their funding, services, and eligibility criteria can vary.
This means that which services you can get at your local CSB and whether you’re eligible depends on where you live. So, it’s important to check with your CSB first to find out how they work and who they serve.
Even if you’re not eligible, or if the program doesn’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.
Where Do You Call to Get Started?
The best way to find out whether you qualify for counseling or other services at your local CSB is to call them directly. You can also call your regional mental health office or the statewide mental health crisis and information line.
You can reach the Georgia Crisis and Access Line by calling (800) 715-4225. The line operates 24/7 and is available every day of the year. The staff who answer can guide you through a crisis, help you identify local resources, and help you set up your first appointment with a CSB or other local provider.
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Important Numbers in Georgia
The national mental health crisis hotline is 988.
The Crisis Text Line for the state of Georgia is 741741.
The statewide Georgia Crisis and Access Line is (800) 715-4225.
You can talk to a peer any time of day by calling the Georgia Peer-to-Peer Warmline at (888) 945-1414.
You can reach the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).
For local information and support, you can reach the non-emergency NAMI Georgia Helpline by calling (770) 408-0625.
You can reach the Behavioral Health Division of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities by calling (404) 657-2136.
The state agency that oversees Georgia’s public mental health system is the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). For general information about Georgia’s mental health system, you can contact the main DBHDD office at (404) 657-2522 or the Behavioral Health Division of DBHDD at (404) 657-2136.
However, you’ll probably get the best results by calling your CSB directly. You can find their number in the directory below.
Georgia CSB Directory
Some community service boards in Georgia serve a single county, while most serve several counties each. There are 23 CSBs for Georgia’s 159 counties.
Six regional DBHDD field offices coordinate, monitor, and oversee the CSBs and other publicly-funded mental health programs in their regions. Each office serves as the first point of contact for people who have questions about what services are available in their region and whether they might be eligible.
So, if you’re curious about public mental health services in your region, your regional office or CSB are both great places to call. You can find out which field office (and which CSB) serves your county, as well as their contact information and location, by scrolling through the directory below.
Georgia Field Offices and CSBs
Regional DBHDD Field Offices
There are six regional DBHDD field offices in Georgia serving several counties each.
- Region 1 (North Georgia) Field Office (Cumming): (678) 947-2818 or (877) 217-4462
- Serving Banks, Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Douglas, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Gordon, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield Counties.
- Region 2 (East Central Georgia) Field Office (Augusta): (706) 792-7733 or (866) 380-4835
- Serving Baldwin, Barrow, Bibb, Burke, Clarke, Columbia, Elbert, Emanuel, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jenkins, Jones, Lincoln, Madison, McDuffie, Monroe, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Twiggs, Walton, Warren, Washington, Wilkes, and Wilkinson Counties.
- Region 3 (Metro Atlanta Area) Field Office (Decatur): (404) 244-5050 or (404) 244-5056
- Serving Clayton, Dekalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale Counties.
- Region 4 (Southwestern Georgia) Field Office (Thomasville): (229) 225-5099 or (877) 683-8557
- Serving Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Lee, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth Counties.
- Region 5 (Southeastern Georgia) Field Office (Savannah): (912) 303-1670
- Serving Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Bleckley, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Dodge, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Pulaski, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler and Wilcox Counties.
- Region 6 (West Central Georgia) Field Office (Columbus): (706) 565-7835
- Serving Butts, Carroll, Chattahoochee, Clay, Coweta, Crawford, Crisp, Dooly, Fayette, Harris, Heard, Henry, Houston, Lamar, Macon, Marion, Meriwether, Muscogee, Peach, Pike, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Spalding, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Troup, Upson and Webster Counties.
Community Service Boards
There are currently 23 CSBs serving the 159 counties in the state of Georgia.
- Advantage Behavioral Health Systems: Serving Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton Counties
- Main Phone Number and Access Line: (855) 333-9544
- Crisis Center (and 24-Hour Crisis Line): (706) 583-7307
- Advantage Behavioral Health Systems Service Locations:
- Athens-Clarke County Behavioral Health Clinic (Athens): (706) 389-6767
- Barrow County Behavioral Health Clinic (Winder): (770) 868-4150
- Elbert County Behavioral Health Center (Elberton): (706) 213-2048
- Greene County Behavioral Health Center (Greensboro): (706) 453-2301
- Jackson County Behavioral Health Clinic (Jefferson): (706) 367-5258
- Walton County Behavioral Health Clinic (Monroe): (770) 267-8302
- Call ABHS if they serve your county but don’t have a clinic there. They’ll tell you which clinic you should go to.
- Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Services: Serving Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Miller, Terrell, and Worth Counties
- Main Number: (229) 430-4140
- Crisis Center (and 24-Hour Crisis Line): (229) 430-1842
- Aspire Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Behavioral Health Comfort Zone (Albany): (229) 430-1360/1361
- Behavioral Health Crisis Stabilization Program (Albany): (229) 430-6005
- Dougherty County Outpatient Clinic (Albany): (229) 430-4140
- Early County Clinic (Blakely): (229) 724-2206 or (229) 724-2050
- Calhoun County Outpatient Clinic (Arlington): (229) 725-3333
- Miller County Outpatient Mental Health Program: (229) 758-2068
- Baker, Lee, and Terrell, and Worth County Programs: (229) 430-4140
- Avita Community Partners: Serving Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White Counties
- Main Number: (678) 513-5700 or (800) 525-8751
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Crisis Center (Gainesville): (678) 960-2700 or (855) 302-8482
- Avita Community Partners Service Locations:
- Banks County Behavioral Health (Demorest): (706) 894-3700
- Dawson County Behavioral Health (Dawsonville): (678) 866-8777
- Forsyth County Behavioral Health (Cumming): (678) 341-3840
- Franklin County Behavioral Health (Hartwell): (706) 376-4002
- Habersham County Behavioral Health (Demorest): (706) 894-3700
- Hall County Adult Behavioral Health (Gainesville): (678) 207-2900
- Hart County Behavioral Health (Hartwell): (706) 376-4002
- Lumpkin County Behavioral Health (Dahlonega): (706) 864-6822
- Rabun County Adult Behavioral Health (Demorest): (706) 894-3700
- Stephens County Behavioral Health (Toccoa): (706) 282-4542
- Towns County Behavioral Health (Blairsville): (706) 745-5911
- Union County Behavioral Health (Blairsville): (706) 745-5911
- White County Behavioral Health (Cleveland): (706) 348-4060
- Bridge Health CSB: Serving Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, and Walker Counties
- Main Number: (706) 670-1074
- Appointments: (866) 552-7434
- Nurse Line: (706) 806-1236
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Bridge Health CSB Service Locations:
- Fort Oglethorpe Outpatient Clinic (Catoosa County): (706) 861-3387
- LaFayette Outpatient Clinic (Walker County): (706) 638-5591
- Summerville Outpatient Clinic (Chattooga County): (706) 857-5441
- Trenton Outpatient Clinic (Dade County): (706) 956-5526
- Clayton Center Community Service Board: Serving Clayton County
- Main Number: (770) 478-2280
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Centralized Scheduling: (844) 438-2778
- Clayton Center CSB Service Locations:
- Battle Creek Adult Counseling Services (Jonesboro): (770) 478-1099
- Community Behavioral Health Services (Jonesboro): (770) 471-4617
- Children, Young Adults, and Family Services (Morrow): (770) 473-2640
- Paula Crane Life Enrichment Center (Morrow): (770) 960-2009
- CSB of Middle Georgia: Serving Bleckley, Burke, Dodge, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Screven, Telfair, Treutlen, Wheeler, and Wilcox Counties
- Main Number: (478) 272-1190
- CSBMG Crisis Line: (478) 275-6820
- CSB of Middle Georgia Service Locations:
- Burke County Outpatient Clinic (Waynesboro): (706) 437-6863
- Dublin Adult Outpatient Clinic (Dublin): (478) 272-1190
- Eastman Outpatient Clinic (Eastman): (478) 448-1040 x4313
- Emanuel County Outpatient Clinic (Swainsboro): (478) 289-2530
- Screven County Outpatient Clinic (Sylvania): (912) 564-7825
- Quentin Price MD Crisis Stabilization Unit (Dublin): (478) 275-6811
- DeKalb Community Service Board: Serving DeKalb County
- Main Number: (404) 294-3836
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (404) 294-0499
- Central Access Line: (404) 892-4646
- DeKalb CSB Service Locations:
- DeKalb Regional Crisis Center (Decatur): (404) 294-0499
- Clifton Springs Behavioral Health Center (Decatur): (404) 243-9500
- East DeKalb Behavioral Health Center (Lithonia): (770) 270-2710
- Kirkwood Behavioral Health Center (Atlanta): (404) 370-7474
- North DeKalb Behavioral Health Center (Chamblee): (770) 457-5867
- Winn Way Behavioral Health Center (Decatur): (404) 508-7700
- Douglas County Community Service Board: Serving Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, and Paulding Counties
- Main Number: (770) 949-8082
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Douglas County CSB Service Location:
- Douglas County CSB (Douglasville): (770) 949-8082
- Fulton County DBHDD: Serving Fulton County
- Main Number: (404) 613-7013
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Fulton County DBHDD Service Locations:
- Adamsville Regional Health Center (Atlanta): (404) 612-9449
- Center for Health and Rehabilitation (Atlanta): (404) 665-8600
- North Fulton Service Center (Sandy Springs): (404) 616-4787
- South Fulton Service Center (College Park): (404) 616-4787
- Gateway Behavioral Health Services: Serving Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh Counties
- Main Number: (866) 557-9955
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: 800) 715-4225
- Gateway BHS Service Locations:
- Behavioral Health Crisis Center (Savannah): (912) 417-9484
- Behavioral Health Crisis Center (Brunswick): (912) 554-8515
- Bryan County Outpatient Clinic (Pembroke): (912) 653-4151
- Camden County Outpatient Clinic (Kingsland): (912) 574-4105
- Chatham County Outpatient Clinic (Savannah): (912) 790-6500
- Chatham County Same-Day Access (Savannah): (912) 417-9471
- Effingham County Outpatient Clinic (Rincon): (912) 826-7469
- Glynn County Outpatient Clinic (Brunswick): (912) 554-8500
- Liberty County Outpatient Clinic (Hinesville): (912) 250-5712
- Long County is served by the Liberty County Outpatient Clinic.
- McIntosh County is served by the Glynn County Outpatient Clinic.
- Georgia Pines CSB: Serving Colquitt, Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole, and Thomas Counties
- Main Number: (229) 225-5208
- Scheduling Line: (844) 227-2413
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (229) 225-3917
- Georgia Pines CSB Service Locations:
- Behavioral Health Crisis Center (Thomasville): (229) 225-3917
- Colquitt County Mental Health Center (Moultrie): (229) 891-7375
- Decatur County Mental Health Center (Bainbridge): (229) 248-2683
- Mitchell County Mental Health Center (Pelham): (229) 294-6509
- Thomas County Mental Health Center (Thomasville): (229) 225-5208
- Highland Rivers Behavioral Health: Serving Bartow, Cherokee, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, and Whitfield Counties
- Main Number: (706) 270-5000
- Appointments: (800) 729-5700
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Highland Rivers Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Behavioral Health Crisis Center at Cobb (Marietta): (404) 794-4857
- Crisis Stabilization Unit at Floyd (Rome): (706) 314-0019
- Crisis Stabilization Unit at Polk (Cedartown): (770) 748-0030
- Crisis Stabilization Unit at Whitfield (Dalton): (706) 270-5107
- Paulding Recovery and Wellness Center (Hiram): (678) 567-0920
- Cherokee Recovery and Wellness Center (Canton): (770) 704-1600
- Bartow Recovery and Wellness Center (Cartersville): (770) 387-3538
- Haralson Recovery and Wellness Center (Bremen): (770) 537-2367
- Pickens Recovery and Wellness Center (Jasper): (706) 253-1112
- Polk Recovery and Wellness Center (Cedartown): (770) 749-2229
- Mosaic Place Recovery and Wellness Center (Cedartown): (687) 901-1445
- Floyd Recovery and Wellness Center (Rome): (706) 233-9023
- Gordon Recovery and Wellness Center (Calhoun): (706) 659-7664
- Gilmer and Fannin Recovery and Wellness Center (Ellijay): (706) 635-2739
- Whitfield and Murray Recovery and Wellness Center (Dalton): (706) 270-5100
- Legacy Behavioral Health Services: Serving Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift, and Turner Counties
- Main Number: (229) 671-6109
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (229) 671-3500
- Legacy Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Behavioral Health Crisis Center (Valdosta): (229) 671-3500
- Berrien County Mental Health Center (Nashville): (229) 494-9416
- Cook County Mental Health Center (Adel): (229) 896-4559
- Lowndes Adult Mental Health Center (Valdosta): (229) 671-6170
- Tift County Mental Health Center (Tifton): (229) 391-2300
- McIntosh Trail CSB: Serving Butts, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Pike, Spalding, and Upson Counties
- Main Number: (770) 358-8250
- Care Connection: (770) 358-5252
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (770) 358-8338
- McIntosh Trail CSB Service Locations:
- Butts County Counseling Center (Jackson): (770) 358-5252 x1111
- Fayette County Counseling Center (Fayetteville): (770) 358-5252 x2111
- Henry County Counseling Center (McDonough): (770) 358-5252 x3111
- Lamar County Counseling Center (Barnesville): (770) 358-5252 x7111
- Pine Woods Behavioral Health Crisis Center (Griffin): (770) 358-8338
- Spalding County Behavioral Health Center (Griffin): (770) 358-5252 x4311
- Upson County Counseling Center (Thomaston): (770) 358-5252 x5111
- Middle Flint Health and Wellness: Serving Crawford, Crisp, Dooly, Houston, Macon, Marion, Peach, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, and Webster Counties
- Main Number: (229) 815-5454
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (833) 215-2545
- Information and Referrals: (229) 815-5454
- Middle Flint Health and Wellness Service Locations:
- Americus Outpatient Clinic: (229) 931-2504
- Americus Outpatient Therapy: (229) 931-6988
- Cordele Outpatient Clinic: (229) 276-2367
- Fort Valley Outpatient Clinic: (478) 825-6499
- Warner Robins Outpatient Clinic: (478) 988-1222
- Phoenix Pointe Crisis Unit (Warner Robins): (478) 988-7100
- New Horizons Behavioral Health: Serving Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, and Talbot Counties
- Main Number: (706) 596-5500
- After-Hours Number: (706) 575-9723
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- New Horizons Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Central Intake Unit (Columbus): (706) 596-5500
- Harris County Mental Health Center (Hamilton): (706) 628-4740
- Randolph/Clay Behavioral Health (Cuthbert): (229) 366-0906
- Talbot County Behavioral Health Center (Talbotton): (706) 570-3250
- Oconee Center CSB: Serving Baldwin, Hancock, Jasper, Putnam, Washington, and Wilkinson Counties
- Main Number: (478) 445-4721
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Oconee Center Service Locations:
- Center Point Adult Mental Health Clinic (Milledgeville): (478) 445-4721
- The Point Adult Mental Health Clinic (Sandersville) (478) 553-2424
- New Beginning Outpatient Clinic (Sparta): (706) 444-1037
- Jasper County Outpatient Clinic (Monticello): (706) 468-9417
- Jasper County Mental Health Scheduling (Monticello): (478) 445-3201
- Pathways Center: Serving Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup Counties
- Main Number: (706) 845-4045 or (888) 247-9048
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Pathways Center Service Locations:
- Carroll County Behavioral Health Clinic (Carrolton): (770) 836-6678
- Coweta County Behavioral Health Clinic (Newnan): (678) 423-4610
- Heard County Behavioral Health Clinic (Franklin): (706) 675-6399
- Meriwether County Behavioral Health Clinic (Greenville): (706) 672-1118
- Pathways Care Campus Adult Unit (Newnan): (678) 854-6090
- Spalding County Behavioral Health Clinic (Griffin): (770) 229-3407
- Troup County Behavioral Health Clinic (LaGrange): (706) 845-4054
- Pineland Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities: Serving Appling, Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Jeff Davis, Tattnall, Toombs, and Wayne Counties
- Main Number: (912) 764-6906
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 746-3526
- Access to Care Line: (800) 746-3526
- Pineland Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Appling Counseling Center (Baxley): (912) 367-4614
- Appling-Tattnall Day Treatment (Reidsville): (912) 557-6838
- Bulloch-Evans Counseling Center (Statesboro): (912) 764-9868
- Bulloch Mental Health Day Treatment (Statesboro): (912) 489-9170
- Candler County Counseling Center (Metter): (912) 685-3317
- Evans Adult Mental Health Services (Claxton): (912) 739-1222
- John’s Place Crisis Stabilization Unit (Statesboro): (912) 764-6129
- Pineland Central Community Support Team (Metter): (912) 685-2757
- Pineland Intensive Case Management (Statesboro): (912) 764-2550
- Tattnall Counseling Center (Reidsville): (912) 557-6794
- Toombs Counseling Center (Vidalia): (912) 537-9316
- Wayne Counseling Center (Jesup): (912) 427-9338
- River Edge Behavioral Health: Serving Baldwin, Bibb, Jones, Monroe, Putnam, Twiggs and Wilkinson Counties
- Main Number: (478) 803-7600
- Appointments: (478) 803-7700
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (478) 451-2797
- River Edge Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Crisis Service Center (Milledgeville): (478) 451-2797
- River Edge Recovery Center (Macon): (478) 803-8403
- Baldwin County Outpatient Services (Milledgeville): (478) 451-2700
- The Center for Health and Rehabilitation (Atlanta): (404) 665-8600
- Macon-Bibb County Outpatient Services (Macon): (478) 803-7600
- Monroe County Outpatient Services (Forsyth): (478) 803-7602
- Serenity Behavioral Health System: Serving Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, and Wilkes Counties
- Main Number: (706) 432-4800
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Serenity Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Augusta Behavioral Health Clinic: (706) 432-4800
- Thomson Behavioral Health Clinic: (706) 595-2739
- Wilkes Behavioral Health Clinic: (706) 678-1973
- Unison Behavioral Health: Serving Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Pierce, and Ware Counties
- Main Number: (912) 449-7100
- Access Line: (800) 342-8168
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- Unison Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Bacon County Child and Family Behavioral Health (Alma): (912) 632-1111
- Brantley County Adult Behavioral Health (Nahunta): (912) 462-5849 x8611
- Charlton County Adult Behavioral Health (Folkston): (912) 496-7460 x6315
- Clinch County Adult Behavioral Health (Homerville): (912) 487-5234 x6610
- Coffee County Adult Behavioral Health (Douglas): (912) 720-9040
- Saint Illa Crisis Stabilization Program (Waycross): (912) 449-7200 x8607
- Ware County Adult Behavioral Health (Waycross): (912) 449-7100 x8600
- Ware County Adult Day Program (Waycross): (912) 449-7241
- Unison Intensive Case Management (Waycross): (912) 449-7136
- View Point Health: Serving Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale Counties
- Main Number: (678) 209-2411
- 24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
- View Point Health Service Locations:
- Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit (Lawrenceville): (678) 209-2460
- Alianza Terapeutica Latina (Norcross): (770) 449-5259
- Lawrenceville Mental Health Center: (678) 209-2411
- Newton Mental Health Center: (678) 209-2600
- Norcross Mental Health Center: (678) 209-2745
- Rockdale Mental Health Center: (678) 209-2655
Some CSBs have hotlines that are staffed 24 hours a day, while others have hotlines with limited hours.
If you need information after hours and your local hotline is not available, it’s okay to call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line for help—even if you aren’t sure whether you’re experiencing a mental health crisis. The staff who answer are trained to quickly figure out what you need and will tell you the steps you need to take to connect with the right services.
Also Consider: Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another great way to get affordable publicly-funded mental health services in Georgia.
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.
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 your 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 to someone, you can try going to a walk-in clinic instead.
Many CSBs in Georgia 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 CSB’s website for locations and hours.
2. There’s a long waiting list.
State-funded services are often in high demand. Georgia 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 CSB 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 services at your local CSB, 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 your CSB but they don’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 your regional office) 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 Georgia’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.
Georgia is no exception. Soon after Congress passed the 1963 Community Mental Health Act, Georgia started founding community mental health programs, thanks in no small part to the efforts of mental health advocate Rosalynn Carter and her husband, Governor Jimmy Carter.
However, Georgia lagged behind other states in establishing a statewide community mental health network. It wasn’t until the 1990s that Georgia adopted its current system of CSBs and developed regional planning boards to ensure service continuity across the state.
Georgia H.B. 100, which was passed in 1994, created the foundation of the current system by establishing regional mental health boards.
DEEP DIVE
What Is the Focus of the Georgia Mental Health System?
The Georgia mental health system has two main purposes. The first is to serve people with severe mental health conditions and people experiencing mental health crises.
Georgia CSBs were also designed to make sure people who face financial or other barriers to getting mental health care can still get the care they need. People who have Medicare or Medicaid and people who have a limited income usually qualify for services at a CSB.
In the decision for the national Olmstead vs. L.C. case, the Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that it is discriminatory to keep people with mental health conditions in state-run institutions when they could function in the community with the right support. Georgia’s lack of a statewide system put it at odds with the Olmstead ruling.
By the time The Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigated Georgia’s state hospitals in 2007, the state was not still abiding by the 1999 ruling and was sued by the Justice Department to get more patients out of hospitals and into community programs. This spurred Georgia officials to take action.
Georgia has made significant improvements to its state mental health program since then. In 2009, it restructured the system and created the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. In 2014, it passed a law establishing its current CSB system.
In 2022, Georgia passed a sweeping new law to expand access to mental health care by requiring all health insurance plans in the state of Georgia to cover it. Advocates and state legislators are working to further improve Georgia’s system through workforce recruitment and other efforts.
Conclusion
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 37 percent of people in Georgia 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 Georgia state mental health services, call your CSB, regional mental health office, or the Georgia Crisis and Access Line. You may find out you can get mental health services through your CSB 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.
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