How To Get Affordable State Sponsored Therapy in Indiana
Many people don’t realize that publicly-funded mental health services are available in their state. People looking for free or low-cost counseling often think their only options are counselors in private practice and don’t know that publicly-funded providers in their communities may also offer counseling services.
While state-based programs are not for everyone, they are often a great place to start for people who face geographic or financial barriers to therapy. Intake specialists at community mental health programs can help people learn whether they qualify for state-funded services and can refer people who don’t qualify to other low-cost programs that may be able to meet their needs.
When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
Few mental health providers outside of those in the public sector are able to immediately serve people in crisis. This usually makes public mental health services the best option for anyone who is having a mental health crisis and needs help right away. The people who answer crisis lines can offer caring attention and support as they help people determine the best response to a crisis, whether it’s inpatient treatment or an appointment with a counselor.
In most cases, community mental health programs serve as alternative providers for people who lack the means to access services in the private sector. Indiana’s system of publicly-funded non-profit providers does not have restrictive eligibility criteria for access to services, but it does have restrictive criteria for access to financial assistance. To find out how sliding-scale fees at your local community mental health center compare to sliding-scale fees for private providers, you can call one of the providers serving your county.
Mental Health America has consistently given Indiana low rankings for access to mental health care in the past decade. Some reasons include its low per-capita funding for mental health services, lack of funding assistance for people who don’t qualify for Medicaid, shortage of mental health care providers, and higher-than-average prevalence of mental illness. According to SAMHSA, only 43.5 percent of people in Indiana with mental illness receive any treatment.
However, Indiana has recently started investing more in its mental health system, including building a state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital (the state’s first in 53 years). Indiana is currently ranked 33 out of 51 states (including the District of Columbia) for access to mental health care by Mental Health America, which reflects some improvement in its ranking over previous years.
As Indiana recommits to its mental health system, it’s a great time to reach out and find out whether a publicly-funded provider is a good option for you. Consider calling your local program’s crisis or information line to learn more. If you’re not finding the care you need, you can search for free or low-cost counselors on OpenCounseling.com or try affordable online counseling at BetterHelp (a sponsor). The help you need may just be a call or a click away.
Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Indiana?
Indiana ties most its public mental health funding to Medicaid. Most community mental health programs in the state encourage people who need financial assistance to apply for Medicaid or Presumptive Eligibility, which is temporary Medicaid coverage under the Healthy Indiana Plan. There is no dedicated program for people who lack insurance but don’t qualify for Medicaid, and a significant amount of the state’s general fund goes toward the state’s psychiatric hospitals.
The downside of this arrangement is that there are fewer ways to receive funding assistance for mental health services in Indiana. The upside is that most community mental health centers don’t have the same strict eligibility requirements as similar programs in other states.
This means you don’t necessarily have to have a severe mental illness to receive counseling from a community mental health center in Indiana. However, if you don’t qualify for Medicaid, you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket unless you have a private insurance plan the program accepts. Most community mental health programs offer sliding-scale fee options to people without insurance.
One way that Indiana helps people with mental health conditions who don’t already have Medicaid is by making it easier for them to get Medicaid. Behavioral and Primary Healthcare Coordination (BPHC) is a relatively new program that helps people with serious mental health conditions qualify for Medicaid. Since 2014, Hoosiers who meet the following criteria can enroll in BPHC and get mental health services at any provider who accepts Medicaid:
- Are 19 years old or older
- Do not live in an institutional setting
- Have income below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level
- Are diagnosed with a BPHC-eligible primary mental health diagnosis
- Have health needs requiring behavioral and medical care coordination
- Meet criteria recommending intensive community-based mental health care
- Need help managing their physical and behavioral health and healthcare needs
While these criteria are still somewhat restrictive, they allow people whose income level would otherwise disqualify them for Medicaid to receive Medicaid if their mental and physical health needs are severe enough. All community mental health programs in Indiana that are certified by DMHA accept Medicaid.
How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Indiana?
There are a few different ways you can learn about Indiana’s mental health programs. For general information, you can call 211 or the DMHA office line at (317) 232-7800. However, the best way to find out how to access publicly-funded mental health care in Indiana is to call one of the community mental health programs serving your county.
To find out which programs serve your area, you can use one of the directories or search tools on the DMHA website. The most in-depth search tool on the site is Find a Local Service Provider, which features an interactive map of providers in or near your zip code. Simpler tools include a County List, a full list of Providers for Adults, and a PDF map. The Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers also has a Provider List on its page.
For your convenience, you can also review the list of providers included below. Note that you will have to search this page or scroll through the listings to find which providers are assigned to your county, as many counties are served by more than one provider.
Indiana's Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Adult and Child Mental Health Center Inc.
- Serving Johnston and Marion Counties
- Main number: (317) 882-5122
- Crisis line: (877) 882-5122
- Outpatient Locations:
- Downtown Indy Clinic (222 East Ohio Street): (877) 882-5122
- Downtown Indy (603 East Washington Street): (317) 635-3306
- Garfield Park (234 E. Southern Ave): (877) 882-5122
- Southside Indy (8320 Madison Avenue): (877) 882-5122
- Southside Indy (8404 Siear Terrace): (877) 882-5122
- Greenwood (107 N. State Road 135): (877) 882-5122
- Franklin Clinic (1860 Northwood Plaza): (877) 882-5122
- Franklin (86 Drake Road): (317) 736-7744
- Columbus (3920 E. 25th Street): (812) 418-7900
- Aspire Indiana
- Serving Boone, Hamilton, Madison, and Marion Counties
- Access Center: (877) 574-1254 or (317) 574-1254
- Crisis line: (800) 560-4038 or (317) 574-1252
- Outpatient Locations:
- Anderson (215 West 19th Street)
- Anderson (2020 Brown Street)
- Anderson (6741 South S.R. 32)
- Carmel (697 Pro-Med Lane)
- Elwood (10731 SR 13)
- Indianapolis (2506 Willowbrook Parkway)
- Lebanon (1600 West Main Street)
- Noblesville (17840 Cumberland Road)
- Centerstone of Indiana
- Serving Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Fayette, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Randolph, Rush, Union, and Wayne Counties
- Main number: (800) 344-8802
- Crisis line: (800) 832-5442
- Outpatient Locations:
- Centerstone Bedford (1315 Hillcrest Road)
- Centerstone Bloomington (645 South Rogers Street)
- Centerstone Columbus (720 North Marr Road)
- Centerstone Connersville (390 East Erie Avenue)
- Centerstone Greensburg (1530 Commerce Park West Drive)
- Centerstone Greenwood (896 East Main Street, Suite 121)
- Centerstone Madison (3008 North Bevcher Drive)
- Centerstone Martinsville (952 South Main Street)
- Centerstone Mooresville (11370 North State Route 67)
- Centerstone Muncie (421 South Walnut Street, Suite 200)
- Centerstone Nashville (1156 Old State Road 46)
- Centerstone North Vernon (216 North State Street)
- Centerstone Richmond Community Support Office (54 South 15th Street)
- Centerstone Richmond Main Office (831 Dillon Drive)
- Centerstone Richmond Samuel Gaar Center (200 North 13th Street)
- Centerstone Rushville (1400 North Cherry Street)
- Centerstone Scottsburg (1092 West Community Way)
- Centerstone Seymour (1443 Corporate Way)
- Centerstone Spencer (35 Bob Babbs Drive)
- Centerstone Union City (224 North Columbia Street)
- Centerstone Winchester (325 South Oak Street, Suite 103)
- Community Health Network
- Serving Clinton, Frankfort, Hancock, Howard, Madison, Marion, Shelby, and Tipton Counties
- Information and appointments: (866) 621-5719 or (317) 621-5719
- Information (Community Howard / Kokomo): (765) 776-8000
- Crisis line: 988 or (317) 621-5700
- Crisis line (Kokomo/Howard County): (888) 204-6242 or (765) 776-8555
- Outpatient locations:
- Lawrence Township (6950 Hillsdale Ct.): (317) 621-7740
- Indianapolis Community Support Services (1640 N. Ritter Ave.): (317) 355-5394
- Warren Township (2040 Shadeland Avenue, Suite 200): (317) 355-1800
- Greenwood at Southpointe (1030 E. County Line Road, Suite C-1): (317) 497-6290
- Greenwood at Stones Crossing (3000 State Road 135, Suite 230): (317) 497-6250
- Hancock County / Greenfield (145 Green Meadows Drive, Suite 1): (317) 318-7100
- Shelby County / Shelbyville (7 East Hendricks Street): (317) 392-2564
- Madison County / Anderson (3125 S. Scatterfield Road, Suite 200): (765) 298-4600
- Howard County / Kokomo (322 North Main): (765) 776-8555 or (888) 204-6242
- Frankfort County / Frankfort (205 North Jackson): (765) 659-4771
- Tipton County / Tipton (202 South West Street): (317) 621-7500 or (866) 621-5719
- Community Mental Health Center, Inc.
- Serving Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland Counties
- Information and access line: (812) 537-1302
- Crisis line: (877) 849-1248
- Outpatient Locations:
- Batesville Open Access, Walk-In, and Outpatient Clinic (215 East George Street): (812) 934-4210
- Brookville Open Access, Walk-In, and Outpatient Clinic (9127 Oxford Pike): (765) 647-4173
- Lawrenceburg Open Access, Walk-In, and Outpatient Clinic (401 West Eads Parkway, Suite 450): (812) 537-7375
- Leon Open Access, Walk-In, and Outpatient Clinic (28208 Indiana One): (812) 576-1600
- Vevay Open Access, Walk-In, and Outpatient Clinic (1037 West Main Street): (812) 427-2737
- Cummins Behavioral Health Systems Inc.
- Serving Boone, Hendricks, Marion, Montgomery, and Putnam Counties
- Appointments: (888) 714-1927 x1500
- Crisis line: (888) 714-1927 x 1501
- Outpatient Locations:
- Boone County / Lebanon (940 Lasley Drive)
- Hendricks County / Avon (6655 East U.S. 36)
- Marion County / Indianapolis (5638 Professional Circle)
- Montgomery County / Crawfordsville (701 Englewood Drive)
- Putnam County / Greencastle (308 Medic Way)
- Edgewater Health
- Serving Lake County
- Main number: (219) 885-4264
- Crisis line: (219) 240-8615
- Outpatient Location:
- Gary (1100 West 6th Avenue)
- Rapid Access/Crisis Location:
- Gary (4747 West 24th Avenue)
- Gary (4747 West 24th Avenue)
- Eskenazi Health Midtown Community Mental Health
- Serving Marion County
- Access line: (317) 880-8491
- Crisis line: (317) 880-8485
- Outpatient Locations:
- James J. Wright Center, Indianapolis (1700 N. Illinois Street): (317) 880-8491
- Mood Disorder Program, Indianapolis (5610 Crawfordsville Road, Suite 22): (317) 244-2792
- Borderline Awareness Skills Empowerment Program, Indianapolis (5610 Crawfordsville Road, Suite 22): (317) 244-2792
- Four County Community Mental Health Center
- Serving Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski, and Tipton Counties
- Main office number: (574) 722-5151
- Access and crisis line: (800) 552-3106
- Outpatient Locations:
- Four County Counseling Center, Logansport (1015 Michigan Ave): (574) 722-5151
- Reach Center, Logansport (421 12th Street): (574) 753-5540
- Cass County / Logansport (408 North Street): (574) 732-2480
- Fulton County / Rochester (401 East 8th Street): (574) 223-8565
- Howard County / Kokomo (1948 West Boulevard): (765) 450-3434
- Miami County / Peru (1000 North /Broadway, Suite A): (765) 472-1931
- Pulaski County / Winamac (118 North Sally Drive): (574) 946-4233
- Tipton County / Tipton (405 Fairgrounds Road): (765) 408-0536
- Grant-Blackford Mental Health Inc.
- Serving Blackford and Grant Counties
- Main number: (800) 755-3469
- Crisis line: (800) 755-3469 or (765) 662-3971
- Answer Line: (765) 662-2222
- Outpatient Locations:
- Cornerstone Behavioral Health, Marion (505 N. Wabash Ave): (765) 662-3971
- Milestone Addiction Services, Marion (116 E. 32nd Street): (765) 662-2039
- Community Support Program, Marion (206 W. 8th St.): (765) 664-7792
- Keystone Family Resource Center, Marion (707 North River Drive): (765) 733-0487
- Hester Hollis Center, Hartford City (118 E. Washington St.): (765) 348-1303
- Hamilton Center Inc.
- Serving Clay, Greene, Hendricks, Marion, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo Counties
- Information and crisis line: (800) 742-0787
- Outpatient Locations:
- Bloomfield (431 East Main Street): (812) 384-9452
- Brazil (1211 East National Avenue): (812) 448-8801
- Clinton (510 South Main Street): (765) 832-2436
- Greencastle (239 Hillsdale Avenue): (765) 653-1024
- Indianapolis (2160 North Illinois): (317) 937-3700
- Linton (1200 County Road 1000 W): (812) 847-4435
- Plainfield (900 Southfield Drive): (317) 837-9719
- Rockville (215 North Jefferson Street): (765) 569-2031
- Spencer (909 West Hillside Avenue): (812) 829-0037
- Sullivan (2134 Mary Sherman Drive): (812) 268-6376
- Terre Haute (620 Eighth Avenue): (800) 742-0787
- West Terre Haute (805 West National Avenue): (812) 533-2145
- LifeSpring Health Systems
- Serving Clark, Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Orange, Perry, Scott, Spenser, and Washington Counties
- Main number: (812) 280-2080
- Information line: (800) 456-2117
- Crisis line: (812) 280-2080
- Outpatient Locations:
- Adult Behavioral Services, Jeffersonville (404 Spring Street): (812) 280-2080
- Integrated Treatment Center, Jeffersonville (1036 Sharon Drive): (812) 280-6606
- Floyd County Office, New Albany (2820 Grand Line Road #10): (812) 981-2594
- Jasper Office (480 Eversman Drive): (812) 482-3020
- English Office (523 N. Main Street): (812) 338-2756
- New Albany Center (618 East Market Street): (812) 280-2080
- Harrison County Office, Corydon (535 Country Club Road): (812) 738-2114
- Jefferson County Office, Madison (1405 Bear Street): (812) 265-4513
- Washington County Office, Salem (1321 Jackson Street): (812) 883-3095
- Scott County Office, Scottsburg (75 North First Street): (812) 752-2837
- Austin Medical Center, Austin (825 North Highway 31): (812) 413-3117
- Paoli Office (488 West Hospital Road): (812) 723-4301
- Tell City Office (1443 Ninth Street): (812) 547-7905
- Rockport Office (818 Madison Street): (812) 649-9168
- Meridian Health Services
- Serving Allen, Delaware, Fayette, Henry, Howard, Jay, Madison, Marion, Randolph, Rush, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe, and Wayne Counties
- Main number: (888) 306-2647 or (765) 288-1928
- Crisis line: (800) 333-2647 or (765) 286-1695
- Outpatient Locations:
- Muncie Main Office (240 N. Tillotson Avenue): (765) 288-1928
- Muncie Senior Health Outpatient Assessment Center (100 N. Tillotson Avenue): (765) 587-0183
- Muncie Meridian Women’s Health (100 N. Tillotson Avenue): (765) 286-2000
- Allen County / Fort Wayne (4646 West Jefferson Street): (260) 436-0932
- Fayette County / Connersville (707 West 3rd Street): (765) 827-1164
- Henry County / New Castle (930 N. 14th Street): (765) 521-2450
- Howard County / Kokomo (424 East Southway Boulevard): (886) 306-2647
- Jay County / Portland (931 West Water Street): (260) 726-9348
- Madison County / Alexandria (101 N. Harrison Street): (765) 442-0570
- Madison County / Anderson (2010 Brentwood Drive): (765) 393-0063
- Madison County / Anderson (1557 Ohio Avenue): (765) 641-7499
- Madison County / Elwood (1518 Main Street): (765) 552-0841
- Marion County / Indianapolis (2506 Willowbrook Parkway): (317) 803-2270
- Randolph County / Winchester (730 W. Washington Street): (765) 584-7820
- Rush County / Rushville (509 Conrad Harcourt Way): (765) 932-3699
- Joseph County / Mishawaka (1818 Went Avenue): (574) 254-0229
- Tippecanoe County / Lafayette (1500 Salem Street): (765) 420-1450
- Wayne County / Richmond (630 East Main Street): (765) 935-5390
- Northeastern Center, Inc.
- Serving DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, and Steuben Counties
- Information line: (260) 347-2453
- Crisis line: (800) 790-0118
- Outpatient Locations:
- DeKalb County / Auburn (1800 Wesley Road): (260) 925-2453
- LaGrange County / LaGrange (2155 North State Road 9): (260) 463-7144
- Noble County / Albion (833 E. Main Street): (260) 636-6975
- Noble County / Kendallville (1930 East Dowling Street): (260) 347-4400
- Steuben County / Angola (3265 Intertech Drive): (260) 665-9494
- Oaklawn Psychiatric Center, Inc.
- Serving Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties
- Main number: (800) 282-0809
- Elkhart County Access and Crisis Line: (574) 533-1234
- Joseph County Access and Crisis Line: (574) 283-1234
- Outpatient Locations:
- South Bend Campus (415 East Madison Street): (574) 283-1234
- Mishawaka Campus (1411 Lincolnway West): (574) 259-5666
- Elkhart Campus (2600 Oakland Avenue): (574) 533-1234
- Goshen Campus (330 Lakeview Drive): (574) 533-1234
- The Otis R. Bowen Center
- Serving Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Delaware, Elkhart, Grant, Howard, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, LaGrange, La Porte, Marshall, Noble, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Tipton, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley Counties
- Information and crisis line: (800) 342-5653
- Outpatient Locations:
- Bowen Center – Albion (101 East Park Drive): (260) 636-6884
- Bowen Center – Angola (200 Hoosier Drive): (260) 624-3741
- Bowen Center – Auburn (923 Cardinal Court): (260) 925-8035
- Bowen Center – Columbia City (119 West Market Street): (260) 248-8176
- Bowen Center – Fort Wayne (2100 Goshen Road): (260) 471-3500
- Bowen Center – Huntington (2860 Northpark Avenue): (260) 356-2875
- Bowen Center – LaGrange (836 N. Detroit Street): (260) 499-3019
- Bowen Center – Plymouth (990 Illinois Street): (574) 936-9646
- Bowen Center – Syracuse (901 South Huntington Street): (574) 457-4400
- Bowen Center – Wabash (255 North Miami Street): (260) 563-8446
- Bowen Center – Warsaw (850 N. Harrison Street): (800) 342-5653
- Park Center, Inc.
- Serving Adams, Allen, and Wells Counties
- Main number: (260) 481-2700 or (260) 481-2800
- Crisis line: (260) 471-9440
- Outpatient Locations:
- Main Office, Fort Wayne (909 E. State Boulevard): (260) 481-2700
- Carew Office, Fort Wayne (1909 Carew Street): (260) 481-2800
- Bluffton Office (1115 South Main Street): (260) 824-1071
- Decatur Office (809 High Street): (260) 724-9669
- Porter-Starke Services
- Serving Porter and Starke Counties
- Main number and crisis line: (219) 531-3500 or (219) 531-3600
- Outpatient Locations:
- Valparaiso Campus (601 Wall Street): (219) 531-3500
- Knox Campus (1001 Edgewood Drive, Suite 1): (574) 772-4040
- Portage Campus (3176 Lancer Street): (219) 762-9557
- Marram Health Center, Gary (3229 Broadway Avenue, Suite 205): (219) 806-3000
- Regional Health Systems Mental Health Center
- Serving Lake County
- Information and crisis line: (219) 769-4005
- Outpatient Locations:
- Strawhun Center, Merrillville (8555 Taft Street)
- Stark Center, East Chicago (3903 Indianapolis Boulevard)
- Hammond Clinic (4016 Hohman Avenue)
- Highland Clinic (2600 Highway Avenue)
- Hobart Clinic (783 East Ridge Road)
- Merrillville Clinic (1441 East 84th Place)
- Samaritan Centers at Good Samaritan
- Serving Daviess, Knox, Martin, and Pike Counties
- Information: (800) 824-7907
- Crisis line: (812) 882-5220
- Outpatient Locations:
- Samaritan Center Vicennes (515 Bayou Street): (812) 886-6800
- Riverfront Counseling Centre, Vincennes (121 Buntin Street, Suite 1): (812) 885-2718
- Samaritan Center Washington (2007 State Street): (812) 254-1558
- Samaritan Center Petersburg (611 Main Street, Suite 110): (812) 354-8785
- Samaritan Center Loogootee (200 S. JFK Avenue): (812) 295-3090
- Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.
- Serving Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties
- Appointment and 24-Hour Crisis Line: (812) 423-7791
- Suicide Prevention: (812) 422-1100
- Outpatient Locations:
- Community Support Services, Evansville (410 Mulberry Street): (812) 436-4243
- Dennis N. Moran Center, Evansville (60 South Stockwell Road): (812) 476-5437
- Lillian G. Moulton Center, Evansville (1 N Barker Avenue): (812) 423-4418
- Robert M. Spear Building, Evansville (415 Mulberry Street): (812) 423-7791
- Stepping Stone Outpatient, Evansville (4001 John Street): (812) 473-3144
- Gibson Regional Services, Princeton (320 S Fifth Avenue): (812) 385-5275
- Posey Regional Services, Mt. Vernon (309 N Sawmill Street): (812) 838-6558
- Warrick Regional Services, Boonville (315 S Third Street): (812) 897-4776
- Swanson Center
- Serving La Porte County
- Main number: (219) 879-4621
- Crisis line: (855) 325-6934
- Outpatient Locations:
- Michigan City (450 St. John Road, Suite 525): (219) 879-4621
- La Porte (1230 West State Road 2): (219) 362-2145
- Valley Oaks (Formerly Wabash Valley Alliance)
- Serving Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe, Warren, and White Counties
- Main number: (765) 446-6400 x1
- Crisis line: (800) 859-5553
- Outpatient Locations:
- Lafayette (North 26th Street): (765) 446-6400 x1
- Lafayette (217 Farabee Drive North): (765) 447-1312
- Lafayette (610 Main Street): (765) 423-2638
- Otterbein (606 Limerick Lane): (765) 583-0186
- Monticello (920 West Executive): (574) 583-9350
- Delphi (1265 North Bradford Court): (765) 564-2247
- Frankfort (357 North Columbia Street): (765) 670-6480
- Crawfordsville (1480 Darlington Avenue): (765) 362-2852
- Attica (41 North Long Avenue): (765) 762-6187
- Rensselaer (131 West Drexel Parkway): (219) 866-4194
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another option for public mental health care in Indiana. These federally-funded programs provide medical and mental health services to people in underserved communities. Their goal is to deliver high-quality coordinated care to people with complex needs and to link behavioral healthcare with primary medical care. Each FQHC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers sliding scale fees to people without insurance. You can search for FQHCs using the online search tool on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
How Does Indiana's Public Mental Health System Work?
In the 1960s, Americans started thinking differently about how to treat mental health conditions. New laws required state and local governments to establish community mental health programs as alternatives to institutionalization for people with serious mental illness. Many states’ public mental health programs trace their origins back to this period.
Indiana is no exception. After the federal Community Mental Health Act was passed in 1963, the Indiana Department of Mental Health began collaborating with local communities to plan and build community mental health centers. The state passed its own community mental health law in 1971.
Following changes in federal laws governing how mental health programs were funded, Indiana changed its program in the 1990s to be more closely tied to Medicaid and to focus more on people with serious mental illness. The state retained its system of having non-profit agencies deliver services under the governance of the state mental health department.
The Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) does not directly provide services but is closely involved with programs that do. In addition to operating Indiana’s six state psychiatric hospitals, DMHA certifies community mental health centers and distributes state and federal mental health funds. The agency’s current goals are improving long-term care options in Indiana and promoting development of the state’s budding integrated health care movement, which is responsible for many new dual-purpose behavioral health and primary care clinics opening across the state.
Unlike mental health departments in many other states, DMHA does not have offices in every county or directly run any essential mental health services. Instead, crisis lines, crisis intervention, case management, counseling, and other outpatient services are all provided by the independent non-profit programs serving a particular county. For this reason, there is some variation from county to county in how services are delivered and what payment assistance is offered, if any.