How To Get Affordable State Sponsored Therapy in Maine
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’re 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.
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When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
Few private mental health providers are able to immediately serve people in crisis, while most state mental health programs, including Maine’s, have crisis response systems that help people get mental health care quickly in an emergency. This usually makes public mental health services the best option if you’re having a mental health crisis and need help right away. The people who answer state 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.
In addition to affordable therapy, publicly-funded outpatient mental health programs in Maine offer specialized and intensive services that aren’t available anywhere else or that are hard to find in private clinics, like case management, psychosocial rehabilitation, and day treatment. Consider going to a publicly-funded provider if you need intensive treatment, live in an area with limited mental health resources, or can’t access mental health care in the private sector due to your diagnosis or financial situation.
Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Maine?
Maine’s mental health department authorizes private programs to provide publicly-funded outpatient mental health services. Since these providers are privately operated, they have some leeway to set their own eligibility requirements. While state-funded programs generally prioritize clients with severe mental illness or limited incomes, many programs in the Maine public network serve clients outside of those groups as well, including people with milder mental health issues.
Ultimately, whether people with milder conditions can receive services at a publicly-funded program depends on each provider’s capacity and criteria. Financial aid policies vary as well. The eligibility criteria for financial aid in Maine are stricter than clinical admission criteria to the programs that offer public financial aid. However, most programs in the public network accept both public and private insurance and offer sliding scales or reduced fees to those who qualify.
Not every publicly-funded provider affiliated with Maine’s state mental health system offers all of the same payment options. Since admission and financial aid criteria differ from program to program, the best way to find out if you’re eligible is to call your regional mental health office or call the program you’re interested in and ask.
How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Maine?
If you need emergency mental health services, you should call the statewide Maine Crisis Line at (888) 568-1112. If you’re not in crisis, but just want someone to talk to about your mental health and learn more about local mental health supports, you can call the Maine Intentional Peer Warm Line at (866) 771-9276. Both phone lines operate 24 hours a day.
Public mental health services in Maine are managed on the state level by the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). For general information about the Maine mental health system, you can call the main office number at OBH at (207) 287-2595. For mental health referrals, you can call Maine 2-1-1 at 211 or (877) 463-6207. For general mental health support and information, you can also call the NAMI Maine Helpline at (800) 464-5767.
We’ve listed numbers for providers affiliated with the Maine mental health system below. We compiled this list from the DHHS list of MaineCare Behavioral Health Home Organizations, Alliance Maine’s list of member providers, and the NAMI Maine Statewide Resource Guide. To confirm whether you are eligible for services, whether financial aid is available, and what payment options are accepted, we recommend calling the program you’re interested in. We’ve also listed the numbers for DHHS district offices and OBH regional offices, which you can call for more information about mental health services in your district or region.
Region I Mental Health Programs and Clinics
- Region I: Cumberland and York Counties
- Region I Mental Health Office:
- South Portland Main Office: (207) 822-0126 or (800) 482-7520
- Region I DHHS District Offices:
- Biddeford District Office: (207) 286-2400 or (800) 322-1919
- Portland District Office: (207) 822-2000 or (800) 482-7520
- Sanford District Office: (207) 490-5400 or (800) 482-0790
- Affiliated Mental Health Programs:
- Hospital-Based Outpatient Programs:
- The Behavioral Health Program at Bridgton Hospital (Bridgton): (207) 647-6000
- Mid Coast Hospital Behavioral Health Outpatient Services (Brunswick): (207) 373-6950
- Integrated Behavioral Health Programs at Community Health Centers:
- Mid Coast Medical Group Integrated Behavioral Health:
- Family Practice at Parkview (Brunswick): (207) 373-4700
- Primary Care and Walk-In Clinic (Brunswick): (207) 373-6848
- Internal Medicine at Parkview (Brunswick): (207) 725-2429
- Mid Coast Medical Group Integrated Behavioral Health:
- Community Mental Health Programs and Clinics:
- Alternative Wellness Services:
- Portland Office: (207) 494-8010
- Biddeford Office: (207) 494-8010
- Catholic Charities Behavioral Health Network Support and Recovery Services (Portland): (207) 871-7431
- Catholic Charities Behavioral Health Network Counseling Services (Portland): (207) 775-5671
- Christopher Aaron Counseling Center (Gray): (207) 657-7700
- Community Health and Counseling Services (Westbrook): (207) 854-0122
- Gateway Community Services:
- Portland Office: (207) 536-1590
- Biddeford Office: (207) 536-5903
- Health Affiliates Maine (South Portland): (207) 333-3278 or (877) 888-4304
- Maine Behavioral Healthcare:
- Biddeford Office: (207) 282-1500 or (844) 292-0111
- Brunswick Office: (207) 373-9417 or (844) 292-0111
- Portland Office: (207) 874-1030 or (844) 292-0111
- Springvale Office: (207) 324-1500 or (844) 292-0111
- Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit (Saco): (207) 282-1500
- MAS Community Health:
- Westbrook Office: (207) 591-4457
- The Opportunity Alliance:
- Portland Office: (207) 874-1175 or (877) 429-6884
- Access and Intake (Portland): (207) 523-5049
- Pathways of Maine:
- Brunswick Location: (207) 798-3922
- Springvale Location: (207) 490-6600
- Scarborough Location: (207) 774-3570
- SequelCare of Maine (Yarmouth): (207) 847-2273
- Shalom House (Portland): (207) 874-1080
- Smart Child and Family Services:
- Biddeford Office: (207) 894-3111
- Windham Office: (207) 893-0386
- Spurwink:
- Westbrook Location: (888) 889-3903
- Portland Location: (888) 889-3903
- Biddeford Location: (888) 889-3903
- Sweetser:
- Same-Day Access: (800) 434-3000
- Brunswick Office: (800) 434-3000
- Saco Office: (800) 434-3000
- Sanford Office: (800) 434-3000
- Tri-County Mental Health Services (Bridgton): (207) 647-5629
- Woodfords Family Services (Westbrook): (207) 878-9663
- Alternative Wellness Services:
- Hospital-Based Outpatient Programs:
- Region I Mental Health Office:
Region II Mental Health Programs and Clinics
- Region II: Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Somerset, and Waldo Counties
- Region II Mental Health Offices:
- Augusta Office: (207) 287-2595
- Lewiston Office: (207) 795-4300 or (800) 482-7517
- Camden Office: (207) 596-4302 or (800) 432-7802
- Region II DHHS District Offices:
- Augusta District Office: (207) 624-8000 or (800) 452-1926
- Ellsworth District Office: (207) 664-1400 or (800) 432-7823
- Farmington District Office: (207) 778-8400 or (800) 442-6382
- Lewiston District Office: (207) 795-4300 or (800) 482-7517
- Rockland District Office: (207) 596-4200 or (800) 432-7802
- Skowhegan District Office: (207) 474-4800 or (800) 452-4602
- South Paris District Office: (207) 744-1200 or (888) 593-9775
- Affiliated Mental Health Programs:
- Hospital-Based Outpatient Programs:
- The Behavioral Health Program at Central Maine Medical Center (Lewiston): (207) 795-0111
- MaineGeneral Outpatient Counseling:
- Augusta Location: (207) 621-3750
- Waterville Location: (207) 861-3500
- MaineHealth Behavioral Healthcare:
- John F. Andrews Family Care Center (Boothbay Harbor): (207) 633-7820
- Herbert and Roberta Watson Health Center (Damariscotta): (207) 701-4570
- Mary’s Medical Center Behavioral Health Services (Lewiston): (207) 777-8700
- Mary’s Medical Center Community Clinical Services Outpatient Counseling Services (Lewiston): (207) 755-3434
- Integrated Behavioral Health Programs at Community Health Centers:
- HealthReach Community Health Centers:
- Belgrade Regional Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Belgrade): (207) 495-3323
- Bethel Family Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Bethel): (207) 824-2193
- Bingham Area Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Bingham): (207) 672-4187
- Lovejoy Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Albion): (207) 437-9388
- Madison Area Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Madison): (207) 696-3992
- Abram Regional Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Kingfield): (207) 265-4555
- Rangeley Family Medicine Integrated Behavioral Health (Rangeley): (207) 864-3303
- Richmond Area Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Richmond): (207) 737-4359
- Sheepscot Valley Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Coopers Mills): (207) 549-7581
- Strong Area Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Strong): (207) 684-4010
- Western Maine Family Health Center Integrated Behavioral Health (Livermore Falls): (207) 897-4345
- Mid Coast Medical Group Integrated Behavioral Health:
- Bath Internal Medicine (Bath): (207) 386-1800
- Topsham Internal Medicine (Topsham): (207) 406-7600
- Northern Light Behavioral Health Home (Belfast): (207) 973-6100
- HealthReach Community Health Centers:
- Community Mental Health Programs and Clinics:
- Alternative Services Northeast Inc.:
- Lewiston Office: (207) 777-1107
- Waterville Office: (207) 680-2592
- Augusta Office: (207) 494-8010
- AngleZ Behavioral Health Services (Augusta): (844) 294-5306
- Assistance Plus:
- Fairfield Office: (207) 453-4708 or (800) 781-0070
- Benton Office: (207) 453-4708 or (800) 781-0070
- Wilton Office: (207) 453-4708 or (800) 781-0070
- Break of Day, Inc. (Damariscotta): (207) 882-6594
- Care and Comfort:
- Wilton Office: (207) 645-5304 or (866) 397-3350
- Waterville Office: (207) 872-5300 or (800) 366-5302
- Catholic Charities Behavioral Health Network Adult Mental Health Services (Fairfield): (207) 453-4368 or (800) 660-5231
- Common Ties Mental Health Services (Lewiston): (207) 795-6710
- Community Clinical Services Outpatient Counseling (Lewiston): (207) 755-3434
- Community Health and Counseling Services
- Augusta Office: (207) 623-3712
- Skowhegan Office: (207) 858-4860
- Cornerstone Behavioral Healthcare (Waterville): (866) 797-6189
- Crisis and Counseling Centers:
- Augusta Location: (207) 626-3448
- Rockland Location: (207) 626-3448
- Skowhegan Location: (207) 626-3448
- Direct Community Care (Augusta): (207) 512-2424
- Gateway Community Services:
- Lewiston Office: (207) 536-5999
- Augusta Office: (207) 512-4666
- Health Affiliates Maine:
- Augusta Office: (207) 333-3278 or (877) 888-4304
- Auburn Office: (207) 333-3278 or (877) 888-4304
- Ellsworth Office: (207) 333-3278 or (877) 888-4304
- Kennebec Behavioral Health:
- Access Center: (888) 322-2136
- Augusta Clinic: (207) 213-2037
- Farmington Office: (207) 860-3026
- Skowhegan Clinic: (207) 474-8368
- Waterville Clinic: (207) 873-2136
- Winthrop Clinic: (207) 377-8122
- Maine Behavioral Health Organization:
- Augusta Location: (207) 458-4642 or (888) 922-4736
- Skowhegan Location: (207) 474-3244 or (207) 485-4554
- Maine Behavioral Healthcare:
- Belfast Office: (207) 338-2295 or (844) 292-0111
- Damariscotta Office: (207) 701-4400
- Farmington Office: (207) 779-2398
- Norway Office: (207) 294-7096 or (844) 292-0111
- Rockland Office: (207) 701-4400 or (844) 292-0111
- MAS Community Health:
- Belfast Office: (207) 218-1170
- Lewiston Office: (207) 376-4880
- Wilton Office: (207) 645-7070
- Oxford County Mental Health Services:
- Rumford Office: (207) 364-3549
- Norway Office: (207) 364-3549
- Pathways of Maine:
- Auburn Location: (207) 777-5888
- Hallowell Location: (207) 621-6760
- Pillars Community Outreach (Fairfield): (207) 453-4500
- R&K Wellness and Mental Health (Waterville): (207) 850-3026
- Penobscot Community Health Care:
- Jackman Community Health Center (Jackman): (207) 668-7755
- Seaport Community Health Center (Belfast): (207) 338-6900
- Winterport Community Health Center (Winterport): (207) 223-0965
- SequelCare of Maine:
- Rockland Office: (207) 847-2273
- Searsport Office: (207) 338-8960
- Spurwink:
- Auburn Location: (888) 889-3903
- Randolph Location: (888) 889-3903
- Sweetser:
- Same-Day Access: (800) 434-3000
- Belfast Office: (800) 434-3000
- Lewiston Office: (800) 434-3000
- Rockland Office: (800) 434-3000
- Tri-County Mental Health Services:
- Lewiston Office: (207) 783-9141
- Farmington Office: (207) 778-3556
- Oxford Office: (207) 743-7911
- Rumford Office: (207) 364-7981
- Alternative Services Northeast Inc.:
- Hospital-Based Outpatient Programs:
- Region II Mental Health Offices:
Region III Mental Health Programs and Clinics
- Region III: Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Washington Counties
- Region III Mental Health Offices:
- Bangor Office: (207) 941-4360 or (800) 963-9491
- Caribou Office: (207) 941-4360 or (800) 963-9491
- Machias Office: (207) 941-4360 or (800) 963-9491
- Region III DHHS District Offices:
- Bangor District Office: (207) 561-4100 or (800) 432-7825
- Calais District Office: (207) 454-2417 or (800) 622-1400
- Caribou District Office: (207) 493-4000 or (800) 432-7366
- Fort Kent District Office: (207) 834-1000 or (800) 432-7340
- Houlton District Office: (207) 532-5000 or (800) 432-7338
- Machias District Office: (207) 255-2000 or (800) 432-7846
- Affiliated Mental Health Programs:
- Hospital-Based Outpatient Programs:
- MDI Hospital’s Behavioral Health Center (Bar Harbor): (207) 288-8604
- Mental Health Counseling at Healthways Regional Medical Center
- Regional Medical Center at Lubec (Lubec): (207) 733-1090
- East Machias Clinic (East Machias): (207) 255-0102
- Northern Light Behavioral Medicine at Northern Light Health Center (Bangor): (207) 973-4037
- Northern Light Integrated Behavioral Health at Northern Light Acadia Hospital (Bangor): (207) 973-6100
- Northern Light Mayo Hospital:
- Northern Light Behavioral Health (Dexter): (207) 564-4110
- Northern Light Behavioral Health (Dover-Foxcroft): (207) 564-4110
- Hospital-Based Outpatient Programs:
- Community Mental Health Programs and Clinics:
- Aroostook Mental Health Center:
- Access Center: (800) 244-6431
- Ellsworth Outpatient (Ellsworth): (207) 667-6890
- Houlton Outpatient (Houlton): (207) 532-6523
- Machias Outpatient (Marshfield): (207) 255-0996
- Calais Outpatient (Calais): (207) 454-0775
- Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit (Presque Isle): (207) 768-3304
- Presque Isle Outpatient (Presque Isle): (207) 764-3319
- Caribou Outpatient (Caribou): (207) 493-3361
- Fort Kent Outpatient (Fort Kent): (207) 834-3186
- Madawaska Outpatient (Madawaska): (207) 728-6341
- Bangor Counseling Center (Bangor): (207) 941-6434
- Care and Comfort:
- Bangor Office: (207) 992-2535 or (877) 784-6993
- Presque Isle Office: (207) 764-3071 or (877) 287-4931
- Dover-Foxcroft Office: (207) 564-0200 or (866) 236-2158
- Charlotte White Center (Dover-Foxcroft): (207) 564-2464 or (888) 440-4158
- Community Care (Bangor): (207) 945-4240 or (888) 236-2273
- Community Health and Counseling Services:
- Bangor Office: (207) 947-0366
- Caribou Office: (207) 496-3166
- Dover-Foxcroft Office: (207) 564-8175
- Ellsworth Office: (207) 667-5357
- Houlton Office: (207) 532-5510
- Lincoln Office: (207) 794-3554
- Machias Office: (207) 255-6786
- Crisis Stabilization Unit (Brewer): (207) 991-5200
- Cornerstone Behavioral Healthcare (Bangor): (866) 275-3741
- Dirigo Counseling Clinic (Bangor): (207) 973-0505 or (877) 656-5132
- Hope House Health and Living Center (Bangor): (207) 992-2636 (Homeless Services)
- Life by Design:
- Caribou Office: (207) 492-1653
- Fort Kent Office: (207) 834-5430
- Houlton Office: (207) 532-9660
- Presque Isle Office: (207) 764-6825
- MAS Community Health:
- Bangor Office: (207) 561-9533
- Machias Office: (207) 259-1645
- Northeast Occupational Exchange:
- Bangor Location: (800) 857-0500
- Newport Location: (800) 857-0500
- Lincoln Location: (800) 857-0500
- Northern Maine General:
- Eagle Lake Office: (207) 444-5152
- Caribou Office: (207) 492-1036
- OHI (Bangor): (207) 605-1259
- Pathways of Maine:
- Bangor Location: (207) 631-2201
- Caribou Location: (207) 492-3009
- Penobscot Community Health Care:
- Penobscot Community Health Center (Bangor): (207) 408-8100
- Brewer Medical Center (Brewer): (207) 989-1567
- Helen Hunt Health Center (Old Town): (207) 827-6128
- Penquis Clinical Counseling Services (Dover-Foxcroft): (207) 564-4110
- SequelCare of Maine (Bangor): (207) 989-2946
- Sunrise Opportunities (Machias): (207) 255-4701
- Wings for Children and Families:
- Bangor Location: (207) 942-2988
- Ellsworth Location: (207) 942-2988
- Aroostook Mental Health Center:
- Region III Mental Health Offices:
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another option for public mental health care in Maine. 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 search tool on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
How Does Maine'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 trace the origins of their public community mental health programs back to this period.
Maine is no exception. Many community mental health programs that are still providing services to Mainers today were founded in the 1960s after John F. Kennedy signed the 1963 Community Mental Health Centers Act. However, even after establishing these programs, Maine continued to rely on its state psychiatric hospitals for most of its public mental health care.
This lack of funding or attention to the community-based mental health system, as well as poor conditions in the state hospitals, resulted in lawsuits and the signing of the Augusta Mental Health Institute (AMHI) Consent Decree in 1990. The Consent Decree required Maine to improve its mental health service system and establish more community options.
However, despite efforts to improve the system, Maine’s community mental health resources continued to lag behind hospital-based treatment in funding and emphasis. Maine still does not adequately fund community care and is still not in compliance with the Consent Decree. While Maine has reduced the capacity of its psychiatric hospitals, it now institutionalizes many Mainers with mental illness in jails instead. Others end up in hospital emergency departments, which have been found in violation of federal law for turning away patients with mental health needs.
Maine has been recognized for spending more per-capita on mental health care than other states do, but this spending reflects its dependence on expensive institutional care. Fortunately, Maine is making efforts to change and improve its system. In June 2019, the Maine government passed a bill to review and improve mental health services in Maine. Several additional bills seeking increased funding and updates to the mental health system are awaiting passage and funding.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 54 percent of people in Maine who have mental health conditions get treatment for them. One reason for the care gap is that people aren’t aware of their options for affordable mental health care, including the public mental health system. You can help change these statistics by reaching out and using your local mental health resources to get the care you need.