How To Get Affordable State Sponsored Therapy in Oklahoma
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.
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 systems, including Oklahoma’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 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.
Oklahoma’s community mental health centers (CMHCs) are publicly-funded outpatient programs that provide mental health care to people with moderate to severe mental health conditions. In addition to affordable therapy, CMHCs provide specialized and intensive services that aren’t available anywhere else or that are hard to find in private clinics. Many CMHCs are located in rural areas that have few other mental health resources. Consider seeking services at a CMHC if you need intensive treatment, live in a rural area, 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 Oklahoma?
For decades, Oklahoma’s mental health system has been among the most poorly funded in the nation. Funding has been even further reduced since the 2008 recession. In response to the state’s worsening budget crisis, cuts in public services escalated to a point in 2017 that state officials said they were considering cutting all public outpatient mental health services.
Though a resolution was reached in 2018 that allowed Oklahoma CMHCs to continue providing outpatient services, the system continues to teeter on the edge of crisis and is only able to serve Oklahomans with the most severe levels of mental illness.
Oklahoma CMHCs determine eligibility using a four-tier priority system. While CMHCs can admit people outside of the highest priority groups when they have enough funding, this is rare. In most cases, to be eligible for public outpatient mental health services in Oklahoma, you must:
- Be diagnosed with a severe mental health condition like schizophrenia, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, or bipolar disorder
- Experience severe functional impairment, such as being unable to maintain employment or stable housing, as a result of this mental health condition
- Be at risk of psychiatric hospitalization, incarceration, or homelessness because of this mental health condition
In addition to illness severity criteria, Oklahoma limits public mental health services using income criteria. To qualify for public mental health services in Oklahoma, you need to have an income that is 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or less and be uninsured or underinsured.
People whose psychiatric symptoms put them at risk of harming themselves or others are also given priority in the Oklahoma mental health system. If you are in crisis, you don’t need to meet any other criteria to use mental health crisis lines or crisis intervention services in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma’s admission criteria for public mental health services are restrictive. However, since eligibility requirements and funding vary from region to region, we still recommend contacting your local program to ask about access to care even if you think you’re not eligible. Many CMHCs will provide free referrals to other providers if you don’t qualify.
How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Oklahoma?
The best way to find out about your local CMHC in Oklahoma is to call the program directly. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) maintains a directory of mental health centers on its website. For general information about the state system, you can contact the ODMHSAS central office at (405) 248-9200.
You can call 2-1-1 Oklahoma or the Oklahoma Heartline for crisis support and information about local mental health resources. For your convenience, we have also listed contact information for all Oklahoma CMHCs, regional crisis lines, and Native American tribal mental health resources in the section below.
Northwest Oklahoma Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Northwest Center for Behavioral Health
- Serving Alfalfa, Beaver, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Major, Texas, Woods, and Woodward Counties
- Main Number: (580) 571-3233
- Crisis Line: (800) 545-0518
- Outpatient Locations:
- Alva: (580) 327-1112
- Enid: (580) 234-3791
- Fairview: (580) 227-2088
- Guymon: (580) 338-5851
- Woodward: (580) 256-8615
- Inpatient Locations:
- Acute Care Services (Fort Supply): (580) 766-2311
- Residential Substance Abuse (Woodward): (580) 256-9700
Northeast Oklahoma Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Edwin Fair Community Mental Health Center
- Serving Kay, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, and Payne Counties
- Main Number: (580) 762-7561
- Crisis Line: (800) 566-1343
- Clinic Location:
- Ponca City: (580) 762-7561
- Grand Lake Mental Health Center, Inc.
- Serving Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Kay, Mayes, Noble, Nowata, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Rogers, Wagoner, and Washington Counties
- Main Number: (918) 273-1841
- Crisis Line: (800) 722-3611
- Clinic Locations:
- Afton Clinic (Afton): (918) 257-4244
- Barnsdall Clinic (Barnsdall): (918) 847-3527
- Craig County Clinic (Vinita): (918) 256-6476
- Delaware County Clinic (Jay): (918) 308-5513
- Grove Clinic (Grove): (918) 786-4434
- Intensive Outpatient Center (Vinita): (800) 722-3611 (Crisis Line)
- Kansas, Oklahoma Clinic (Kansas): (918) 786-4434
- Kay County Clinic (Ponca City): (580) 749-5056
- Mayes County Clinic (Pryor): (918) 825-1405
- GRAND Recovery Center (Pryor): (800) 722-3611 (Crisis Line)
- Noble County Clinic (Perry): (918) 308-5512
- Nowata County Clinic (Nowata): (918) 273-7344
- Osage County Clinic (Pawhuska): (918) 604-6054
- Ottawa County Clinic (Miami): (918) 540-1511
- Pawnee County Clinic (Cleveland): (918) 308-5511
- Payne County Clinic (Stillwater): (405) 372-2202
- Rogers County Clinic (Claremore): (918) 342-0770
- Stillwater Intensive Outpatient Center (Stillwater): (800) 722-3611 (Crisis Line)
- Washington County Clinic (Bartlesville); (918) 337-8080
- Counseling and Recovery Services of Oklahoma
- Serving Tulsa County
- Main Number: (918) 492-2554
- Crisis Line (COPES): (918) 744-4800
- Office Locations:
- Main Office (Tulsa): (918) 492-2554
- The Calm Center (Tulsa): (918) 394-2256
- Sand Springs Office (Sand Springs): (918) 245-5565
- Family and Children’s Services
- Serving Tulsa County
- (Includes services for adults)
- Main Number: (918) 712-4301
- Appointment Line: (918) 587-9471
- Crisis Line (COPES): (918) 744-4800
- Office Locations:
- Central Office (Tulsa): (918) 587-9471
- Sarah and John Graves Center (Tulsa): (918) 712-4301
- CrisisCare Center (Tulsa): (918) 921-3200
- East Office (Tulsa): (918) 437-9495
- Lewis Office (Tulsa): (918) 584-4549
- Osage Hills Office (Tulsa); (918) 425-4200
- Salvation Army Office (Tulsa): (918) 582-1200
- Broken Arrow Office (Broken Arrow): (918) 587-9471
- Owasso Office (Owasso): (918) 587-9471
- Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
- Cherokee Nation Health Services
- Serving the Cherokee Nation and other federally recognized tribes
- Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- A-Mo Health Center (Salina): (918) 434-8500
- Bartlesville Health Center (Bartlesville): (918) 336-0823
- Behavioral Health Services (Tahlequah): (918) 207-4977
- Cooweescoowee Health Center (Ochelata): (918) 535-6000
- Redbird Smith Health Center (Sallisaw): (918) 775-9159
- Sam Hider Health Center (Jay): (918) 253-1700
- Three Rivers Health Center (Muskogee): (918) 781-6500
- Vinita Health Center (Vinita): (918) 256-4800
- Will Rogers Health Center (Nowata): (918) 273-7500
- Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center (Stilwell): (918) 696-8800
- W. Hastings Hospital (Tahlequah): (918) 458-3100
- Jack Brown Adolescent Treatment Center (Tahlequah): (918) 453-5500
- Cherokee Nation Health Services
- Iowas of Oklahoma
- Tribal Health Department
- Serving Native Americans and other members of the local community
- Integrated Health Clinic Locations:
- Perkins Family Clinic: (405) 547-2473
- Tribal Health Department
- Kaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Kanza Health Clinic (Newkirk): (580) 362-1039
- Serving members of federally recognized tribes
- Kanza Health Clinic (Newkirk): (580) 362-1039
- Northeastern Tribal Health System (Miami): (918) 542-1655
- A collaborative health system organized and run by the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Miami Nation, Modoc Nation, Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, and Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma
- Behavioral Health Department (Miami): (918) 332-4399
- The Osage Nation
- WahZhaZhi Health Center (Pawhuska): (918) 287-9300
- Serving members of the Osage Nation and members of other tribes
- Osage Nation Counseling Center (Pawhuska): (918) 287-5413
- WahZhaZhi Health Center (Pawhuska): (918) 287-9300
- The Otoe-Missouria Tribe
- The Otoe-Missouria Tribe Health Program (Red Rock): (580) 723-4466 x149
- Serving Native Americans living within 50 miles of the tribal complex
- Otoe-Missouria Tribal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (Red Rock): (580) 723-4466 x125
- The Otoe-Missouria Tribe Health Program (Red Rock): (580) 723-4466 x149
- Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
- White Eagle Health Center (Ponca City): (580) 765-2501
- Serving members of federally recognized tribes
- Social Development Center (Ponca City): (580) 762-6617
- Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Program (Ponca City): (580) 762-3421
- White Eagle Health Center (Ponca City): (580) 765-2501
- Quapaw Nation
- Quapaw Counseling Services (Miami): (918) 542-1786
- Serving both Native Americans and non-Native Americans
- Quapaw Counseling Services (Miami): (918) 542-1786
- Seneca-Cayuga Nation
- Seneca-Cayuga Substance Abuse Program (Grove): (918) 787-6800
- Serving Native Americans living in the service area
- Seneca-Cayuga Substance Abuse Program (Grove): (918) 787-6800
- Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma
- Staying Together Project (Tonkawa): (580) 628-7029
- Wyandotte Nation
- Bearskin Health Clinic (Wyandotte): (918) 678-2070 or (888) 864-0725
- Eligibility requirements depend on the specific program
- Bearskin Health Clinic (Wyandotte): (918) 678-2070 or (888) 864-0725
- Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service
- Serving Native Americans in eligible service areas
- Administrative Office (Oklahoma City): (405) 951-3820
- IHS Healthcare Facilities:
- Claremore Indian Hospital (Claremore): (918) 342-6434
- Medical Clinic: (918) 342-6658
- Walk-In Clinic: (918) 342-6658
- Women’s Clinic: (918) 342-6521
- Pawnee Indian Health Center (Pawnee): (918) 762-2517
- Claremore Indian Hospital (Claremore): (918) 342-6434
Western Oklahoma Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Red Rock Behavioral Health Services
- Serving Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Custer, Grady, Greer, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, and Washita Counties
- Main Number: (405) 424-7711 or (855) 999-8055
- Crisis Line: Contact one of the Crisis Units listed below
- Outpatient Office Locations:
- Altus: (580) 379-4085
- Canadian County (El Reno): (405) 422-8800
- Chandler: (405) 258-3040
- Chickasha: (405) 222-0622
- Clinton: (580) 323-6021
- Elk City: (580) 225-5136
- Hobart: (580) 726-2452
- Kingfisher: (405) 776-0500
- Oklahoma City: (405) 424-7711
- Shawnee: (405) 275-7100
- Watonga: (580) 952-3900 or (580) 623-7199
- Yukon: (405) 354-1928
- Crisis Stabilization Unit Locations:
- Clinton Adult Crisis Unit: (580) 323-6021
- Norman Adult Crisis Unit: (405) 307-4800
- Children’s Crisis Unit (Oklahoma City): (405) 425-0333
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma
- Department of Health: (405) 422-7656
- Serving members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and Native American communities
- Substance Abuse Treatment Program Location:
- George Hawkins Memorial Treatment Center (Clinton): (580) 331-2370
- Department of Health: (405) 422-7656
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation Behavioral Health Services: (405) 214-5101
- Serving members of federally recognized tribes
- Citizen Potawatomi Health Clinic Locations:
- East Clinic (Shawnee): (405) 273-5236
- West Clinic (Shawnee): (405) 964-5770
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation Behavioral Health Services: (405) 214-5101
- Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
- Behavioral Health Services (McLoud): (405) 964-2618 or (866) 294-0542
- Serving Native Americans with a CDIB card
- Behavioral Health Services (McLoud): (405) 964-2618 or (866) 294-0542
- Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma
- Pawnee Nation Substance Abuse Program (Pawnee): (918) 762-2143
- Serving members of the eligible Indian population in the service area
- Pawnee Nation Substance Abuse Program (Pawnee): (918) 762-2143
- Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service
- Serving Native Americans in eligible service areas
- Administrative Office (Oklahoma City): (405) 951-3820
- IHS Healthcare Facilities:
- Carnegie Indian Health Center (Carnegie): (580) 654-1100
- Clinton Indian Health Center (Clinton): (580) 331-3300
Central Oklahoma Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Central Oklahoma CMHC
- Serving Cleveland and McClain Counties
- Main Number: (405) 360-5100
- Crisis Line (Oklahoma Heartline): 988 or 211
- Office Locations:
- Main Office (Norman): (405) 360-5100
- Satellite Office (Purcell): (405) 360-5100
- Hope Community Services Inc.
- Serving Oklahoma County
- Main Number: (405) 634-4400
- Crisis Line: (405) 226-6200
- Office Locations (Use Main Number for All Locations):
- Wellness and Recovery Buildings (Oklahoma City)
- Shields Building (Oklahoma City)
- NorthCare
- Serving Logan and Oklahoma Counties
- Main Number and Crisis Line: (405) 858-2700
- Office Locations:
- NorthCare of Oklahoma City (Adult Services): (405) 858-1700
- NorthCare of Logan County (Guthrie): (405) 858-1750
- Family Treatment Center (Guthrie): (405) 858-1749
- NorthCare of Clinton (Clinton): (580) 323-1695
- NorthCare of Enid (Enid): (580) 237-5564
- NorthCare of Lawton (Lawton): (580) 250-1222
- NorthCare of Norman (Norman): (405) 329-3349
- NorthCare of Stillwater (Stillwater): (405) 707-9722
- Red Rock Behavioral Health Services
- Serving Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Custer, Grady, Greer, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, and Washita Counties
- Main Number: (405) 424-7711 or (855) 999-8055
- Crisis Line: Contact one of the Crisis Units listed below
- Outpatient Office Locations:
- Altus: (580) 379-4085
- Canadian County (El Reno): (405) 422-8800
- Chandler: (405) 258-3040
- Chickasha: (405) 222-0622
- Clinton: (580) 323-6021
- Elk City: (580) 225-5136
- Hobart: (580) 726-2452
- Kingfisher: (405) 776-0500
- Oklahoma City: (405) 424-7711
- Shawnee: (405) 275-7100
- Watonga: (580) 952-3900 or (580) 623-7199
- Yukon: (405) 354-1928
- Crisis Stabilization Unit Locations:
- Clinton Adult Crisis Unit: (580) 323-6021
- Norman Adult Crisis Unit: (405) 307-4800
- Children’s Crisis Unit (Oklahoma City): (405) 425-0333
- Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
- Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System
- Serving members of federally recognized tribes and Non-Native individuals with select insurances
- Behavioral Health Program Service Locations:
- Little Axe Health Center (Norman): (405) 447-0300
- Shawnee Clinic Behavioral Health Services (Shawnee): (405) 878-4716
- Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System
- Kiowa Tribe
- Kiowa Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (Anadarko): (405) 247-9009
- Serving tribal members in a ten-county service area
- Kiowa Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (Anadarko): (405) 247-9009
- Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (Oklahoma City): (405) 948-4900
- Serving members of federally recognized tribes
- Behavioral Health Department: (405) 948-4900 x623
- Sac and Fox Nation
- Sac and Fox Health Services
- Serving members of the Native American community
- Black Hawk Health Center (Stroud): (918) 968-9531
- Sac and Fox Health Services
- Wichita and Affiliated Tribes
- Chemical Dependency/Mental Health Program (Anadarko): (405) 247-8650
- Serving members of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and non-indigenous tribal members living in the service area
- Chemical Dependency/Mental Health Program (Anadarko): (405) 247-8650
- Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service
- Serving Native Americans in eligible service areas
- Administrative Office (Oklahoma City): (405) 951-3820
- IHS Healthcare Facilities:
- Anadarko Indian Health Center (Anadarko): (405) 247-7900
- El Reno Indian Health Center (El Reno): (405) 234-8400
- Watonga Indian Health Center (Watonga): (580) 623-4991
- Wewoka Indian Health Center (Wewoka): (405) 257-6282
Eastern Oklahoma Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Counseling and Recovery Services of Oklahoma
- Serving Tulsa County
- Main Number: (918) 492-2554
- Crisis Line (COPES): (918) 744-4800
- Office Locations:
- Main Office (Tulsa): (918) 492-2554
- The Calm Center (Tulsa): (918) 394-2256
- Sand Springs Office (Sand Springs): (918) 245-5565
- Family and Children’s Services
- Serving Tulsa County
- (Includes services for adults)
- Main Number: (918) 712-4301
- Appointment Line: (918) 587-9471
- Crisis Line (COPES): (918) 744-4800
- Office Locations:
- Central Office (Tulsa): (918) 587-9471
- Sarah and John Graves Center (Tulsa): (918) 712-4301
- CrisisCare Center (Tulsa): (918) 921-3200
- East Office (Tulsa): (918) 437-9495
- Lewis Office (Tulsa): (918) 584-4549
- Osage Hills Office (Tulsa); (918) 425-4200
- Salvation Army Office (Tulsa): (918) 582-1200
- Broken Arrow Office (Broken Arrow): (918) 587-9471
- Owasso Office (Owasso): (918) 587-9471
- CREOKS Health Services
- Serving Adair, Cherokee, Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Sequoyah, Tulsa, and Wagoner Counties
- Main Number: (918) 382-7300 or (877) 317-3657
- Crisis Line: (918) 216-4999 or (877) 327-3657
- Outpatient Mental Health Clinic Locations:
- Atoka: (580) 364- 0669
- Bartlesville: (918) 336-0810
- Broken Arrow: (918) 355-0993
- Claremore: (918) 342-2080
- Lawton: (580) 581-7246
- McAlester: (918) 420-5343
- Miami: (918) 542-6412
- Muskogee: (918) 687-7064
- Okemah: (918) 623-2922
- Oklahoma City: (405) 634-1497
- Okmulgee: (918) 756-9250
- Pawnee: (918) 762-1045
- Poteau: (918) 647-7000
- Sallisaw: (918) 775-5513
- Sapulpa: (918) 227-2016
- Shawnee: (405) 275-1844
- Stillwater: (405) 372-7791
- Stillwell: (918) 696-6212
- Tahlequah: (918) 207-0078
- Tulsa: (918) 382-7300
- Vinita: (918) 256-9961
- Wagoner: (918) 485-0242
- Other Service Locations:
- Spring Creek Recovery Center (Sapulpa): (918) 216-4999
- TruHealth Integrated Care (Sapulpa): (918) 216-4677
- TruWellness Pharmacy (Sapulpa): (918) 216-4628
- Green Country Behavioral Health Services Inc.
- Serving McIntosh and Muskogee Counties
- Main Number: (918) 867-1039
- Crisis Line: (918) 682-8407
- Office Locations:
- Home Office (Muskogee): (918) 682-8407
- Checotah Office (Checotah): (918) 926-6100
- Eufaula Office: (918) 689-3357
- Crisis Stabilization Unit (Muskogee): (918) 687-1039
- The Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Creek Nation Health Services
- Eligibility depends on service/program
- Creek Nation Behavioral Health Program: (918) 279-3471
- Integrated Health Clinic Locations:
- Coweta Indian Health Facility: (918) 279-3471
- Eufaula Indian Health Center: (918) 490-7030 or (918) 618-2168
- Okemah Indian Health Center: (918) 623-1424 or (918) 623-3010
- Okmulgee Indian Health Center: (918) 591-5700 or (918) 758-1910
- Sapulpa Indian Health Center: (918) 224-9310 or (918) 224-9307
- Creek Nation Health Services
- Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (Tulsa): (918) 588-1900
- Serving members of federally recognized tribes
- Behavioral Health Department: (918) 588-1900
- United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees
- Keetoowah Cherokee Treatment Services (Tulsa): (918) 835-3017
Southwestern Oklahoma Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Jim Taliaferro CMHC
- Serving Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Stephens, and Tillman Counties
- Main Number: (580) 341-0716
- Crisis Line (Oklahoma Heartline): 988 or 211
- Office Locations:
- Altus: (580) 480-0650
- Anadarko: (405) 247-6807
- Duncan: (580) 225-5136 or (580) 475-0519
- Lawton: (580) 248-5780
- Comanche Nation of Oklahoma
- Comanche Nation Prevention and Recovery Center (Lawton): (580) 357-3449
- Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service
- Serving Native Americans in eligible service areas
- Administrative Office (Oklahoma City): (405) 951-3820
- IHS Healthcare Facilities:
- Lawton Indian Hospital (Lawton): (580) 354-5000
South Central Oklahoma Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers
- Serving Bryan, Carter, Garvin, Johnston, Love, Marshall, Murray, Pontotoc, and Seminole Counties
- Main Number: (580) 223-5070
- Crisis Line: (800) 522-1090
- Clinic Locations:
- Ardmore Clinic: (580) 223-5070
- Ada Clinic: (580) 436-2690
- Durant Clinic: (580) 924-7330
- Pauls Valley Clinic: (405) 238-7311
- Seminole Clinic: (405) 382-4507
- Tishomingo Clinic: (580) 371-3019
- Other Service Locations:
- Crisis Stabilization Unit (Ardmore): (580) 798-4523
- Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Chickasaw Nation Behavioral Health Services: (580) 421-4591
- Serving members of the Chickasaw Nation and other Native Americans
- Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Ardmore Health Clinic (Ardmore): (580) 226-8181
- Chickasaw Nation Medical Center (Ada): (580) 436-3980
- Purcell Health Clinic (Purcell): (405) 527-4700
- Tishomingo Behavioral Health Clinic (Tishomingo): (580) 387-2719
- Chickasaw Nation Outpatient Services: (580) 436-1222
- Outpatient Clinic Locations:
- Ada Outpatient Services: (580) 436-1222
- Ardmore Outpatient Services: (580) 222-2884
- Kingston Outpatient Services: (580) 564-3060
- Oklahoma City Outpatient Services: (405) 757-8940
- Pauls Valley Outpatient Services: (405) 331-2300
- Purcell Outpatient Services: (405) 767-8940
- Chickasaw Nation Behavioral Health Services: (580) 421-4591
Southeastern Oklahoma Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Carl Albert Community Mental Health Center
- Serving Atoka, Choctaw, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Latimer, LeFlore, McCurtain, Pittsburg, and Pushmataha Counties
- Main Number: (918) 426-7838
- Crisis Line (Oklahoma Heartline): 988 or 211
- Office Locations:
- Atoka: (580) 889-6459
- Heavener: (918) 653-7718
- Holdenville: (405) 379-6668
- Hugo: (580) 326-7531
- Idabel: (580) 286-6639
- McAlester: (918) 426-7800
- Stigler: (918) 967-8491
- Choctaw Nation
- Choctaw Nation Department of Behavioral Health: (918) 567-3065 or (800) 349-7026
- Behavioral Health Service Locations:
- Choctaw Nation Health Care Center (Talihina): (918) 567-7000
- Choctaw Nation Behavioral Health Clinic (Talihina): (918) 567-3065 or (800) 349-7026
- Hugo Health Clinic: (580) 326-7561
- Atoka Health Clinic: (580) 889-1981
- Stigler Health Clinic: (918) 967-9200
- Poteau Health Clinic: (918) 649-1100
- McAlester Health Clinic: (918) 423-8440
- Windhorse Family Counseling McAlester: (918) 302-0052
- Windhorse Family Counseling Idabel: (580) 286-7025
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another option for public mental health care in Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma'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. Oklahoma is no exception.
The Oklahoma state mental health department was established in 1953, and the state’s history of mental health care traces even further back to the late 1800s. However, Oklahoma’s system focused almost exclusively on providing institutional care until President John F. Kennedy signed the federal Community Mental Health Act in 1963. Oklahoma was the first state to build a CMHC using funds from the Community Mental Health Act. After six years of planning and building, the Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center in Norman opened in 1969.
The Oklahoma community mental health system has never been well-funded and has been in crisis in the last decade. However, mental health advocates in Oklahoma continue to fight for a better system, and in 2019, ODMHSAS funding was increased for the first time in years. While issues with access continue, people who receive public mental health services in Oklahoma experience good outcomes and receive innovative care driven by state-funded research.
Public mental health services in Oklahoma are overseen on the state level by ODMHSAS. The mental health system in Oklahoma is centralized rather than county-based and is divided into several multi-county service regions. Services are provided by a network of about 15 CMHCs. Some CMHCs are directly operated by the state, while most are independent nonprofits that the state contracts to provide state-funded services. Native Americans in Oklahoma can also choose to receive mental health services at tribal facilities and programs where they are available.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 43 percent of people in Oklahoma 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 CMHCs, tribal programs, and nonprofit clinics. You can help change these statistics by reaching out and using local mental health resources to get the care you need.