Your (Unofficial) Guide to State-Sponsored Therapy in Virginia

You should consider reaching out to your local Virginia CSB if you (or a loved one) are having a mental health crisis, have a severe mental health condition, need specialty services, or have a limited income.

Everyone in Virginia can use the state-funded mental health emergency response system. If you or someone you love is in crisis, you can call your local crisis line to get the help you need, quickly.

Even if you’re not in crisis, you can call your local mental health hotline for information about affordable mental health services in your area. When you call, you can find out whether you might qualify for state-funded mental health services, schedule an assessment or intake appointment, or get free information about other affordable local providers.

Other parts of the system have stricter eligibility requirements. You need to have a serious mental health condition (a diagnosable condition that affects your daily functioning) to qualify for public outpatient mental health care at many Virginia CSBs.

However, more people have a qualifying condition than realize it. Don’t assume you’re not eligible!

One of the most important requirements you need to meet to get services at a Virginia CSB is to be a resident of the area it serves. Some CSBs serve one specific county or city, while others serve a larger “catchment area” of multiple counties. You can find out which CSB serves your area by scrolling to the directory below.

Services at a CSB are a great option if you’re a local resident with a public insurance plan. All Virginia CSBs accept Medicaid (most also accept Medicare), and it can be hard to find other providers who do. Many Virginia CSBs also accept other insurance plans and offer low sliding-scale fees if you don’t have insurance.

Virginia CSBs focus on serving people with severe mental health conditions. So, if you have a serious mental health condition that affects your functioning or safety on a day-to-day basis, you should look into getting services at your local Virginia CSB. You may also qualify for services if you belong to a special eligibility group.

If you’ve recently been hospitalized for mental health reasons or are unemployed or homeless because of a mental health condition, you should definitely call your local CSB. Also call if you’re concerned that you’re at risk of hospitalization, homelessness, or incarceration due to a mental illness.

Virginia CSBs have specialized services designed to help you address these challenges and get the support you need to regain stability while living at home in your local community.

You can also usually find affordable therapy and other basic outpatient mental health services like medication management at Virginia CSBs. Whether you need a severe mental health condition or to meet other requirements to get these services depends on the funding and policies of your local CSB.

Note, however, that not all CSBs provide individual therapy, so you should ask if they do over the phone before investing time and money in an in-person assessment if you’re looking for therapy. You should also ask if the CSB charges a fee for an assessment even if you find out you’re not eligible for services.

If the assessment is free or inexpensive, it’s probably worth it. Intake workers can help you clarify what you need and give you referrals to other providers if CSB services aren’t right for you. (If they do charge for in-person assessments, you may be able to get free referral information over the phone.)

Even if you’re not eligible, or if the CSB doesn’t offer the service you want, they can probably still help you. People who work at Virginia CSBs 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 to people who don’t qualify for CSB services.

The easiest way to learn more about state mental healthcare in Virginia is to call your local mental health hotline. To find your local number, scroll to the CSB directory in the next section. You can also call one of the following statewide numbers for general help or information.

Public mental health services in Virginia are managed on the state level by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. For general information about Virginia’s system, you can contact their main office by calling (804) 786-3921.

However, you’ll probably get the best results by calling your local CSB directly. You can find your local number in the directory below.

Virginia has 40 CSBs, many of which have multiple offices and service locations. Each CSB has a number you can call to get information about mental health services or to get help in a crisis.

Many CSBs can give you basic information over the phone, including other local providers you can contact if you don’t meet requirements for their services.

You can also often find information on your CSB’s website about the services they offer and who qualifies for them. Most also explain where their walk-in assessment centers are located.

You can find listings for all Virginia CSBs, crisis and information lines, and local offices below.

Most crisis lines also often serve as general information lines for people seeking local mental health care. Some CSBs have dedicated information, access, or referral lines in addition to crisis lines. Some have one 24-hour crisis line, while some have different daytime and after-hours crisis lines.

If you need information after hours or aren’t sure whether you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s okay to call a crisis line for help. The staff who answer are trained to quickly figure out what you need and can tell you what steps you need to take to connect with the right services.

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another great way to get affordable publicly-funded mental health services in Virginia.

These federally-funded programs provide cutting-edge care in places where good primary healthcare was once hard to find. Most provide integrated care, meaning 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. Eligibility requirements at FQHCs are usually less strict than at CSBs.

You can search for FQHCs near you by using the online search tool on the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration website.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 45 percent of people in Virginia 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 Virginia state mental health services, call your local CSB or crisis 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.