Finding Low-Cost Mental Health Care

What should you do if you're under a lot of stress or dealing with a
mental health issue and you don't have the money for treatment?

You're not alone if you're concerned about paying for mental health
care. Lots of people need help and worry that they can't afford it. Even
if you have insurance, it can be challenging. Some insurance companies
don't cover mental health services very much, if at all, and they often
have expensive copays and deductibles.

Still, it is possible to find affordable — sometimes even free — mental health care or support.




Free or Low-Cost Counseling



When it comes to finding a counselor, start at school. School counselors
and school psychologists can provide a good listening ear — for free!
They can help you size up the situation you're dealing with and, if
needed, refer you to more support in your county or community.

If your school counselor can't help, you'll need to do a little more
research to figure out how to get help. Some of the free or low-cost
mental health care possibilities to explore include:

• Local mental health centers and clinics. These
  groups are funded by federal and state governments so they charge less
  than you might pay a private therapist. Search online for "mental health
  services" and the name of the county or city where you live. Or, go to
  the website for the National Association of Free Clinics. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration also provides a list of federally funded clinics by state.
  (Note: By clicking either of these links, you will be leaving the TeensHealth site.)
  
  One thing to keep in mind: Not every mental health clinic will fit your
  needs. Some might not work with people your age. For example, a clinic
  might specialize in veterans or kids with developmental disabilities.
  It's still worth a call, though. Even if a clinic can't help you, the
  people who work there might recommend someone who can.
  
• Hospitals. Call your local hospitals and ask what
  kinds of mental health services they offer — and at what price. Teaching
  hospitals, where doctors are trained, often provide low- or no-cost
  services.
  
• Colleges and universities. If a college in your
  area offers graduate degrees in psychology or social work, the students
  might run free or low-cost clinics as part of their training.
  
• On-campus health services. If you're in college or
  about to start, find out what kind of counseling and therapy your school
  offers and at what cost. Ask if they offer financial assistance for
  students.
  
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). These free
  programs provide professional therapists to evaluate people for mental
  health conditions and offer short-term counseling. Not everyone has
  access to this benefit: EAPs are run through workplaces, so you (or your
  parents) need to work for an employer that offers this type of program.
  
• Private therapists. Ask trusted friends and adults
  who they'd recommend, then call to see if they offer a "sliding fee
  scale" (this means they charge based on how much you can afford to pay).
  Some psychologists even offer certain services for free, if necessary.
  You can find a therapist in your area by going to the website for your
  state's psychological association or to the site for the American
  Psychological Association (APA). To qualify for low-cost services, you
  may need to prove financial need. If you still live at home, that could
  mean getting parents or guardians involved in filling out paperwork. But
  your therapist will keep everything confidential.
  

If you're in college, you may be covered under a parent's health
insurance policy. (Depending on the rules in your state, you may even be
covered if you are not in college.) It's worth a call to your parent's
insurance company to find out.
Financial Help



Programs like Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP) offer free or reduced-fee medical insurance to teens who
are not covered. To find out if you qualify for mental health
assistance through these programs, call your doctor's office or hospital
and ask to speak to a financial counselor. Your school counselor also
might be able to help you figure out what kind of public medical
assistance you could qualify for and guide you through the process of
applying.

People under age 18 who live at home will need a parent or guardian
to sign off on the paperwork for these programs. After that, though,
your care will be confidential. A therapist won't tell parents what
you've talked about — unless he or she thinks you may harm yourself or
another person.

Getting Help in a Crisis



If you're feeling suicidal, very hopeless or depressed, or like you
might harm yourself or others in any way, call a suicide or crisis
hotline. These offer free help right away.

• Suicide hotlines. Toll-free confidential lines like
  1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-999-9999 are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a
  week by trained professionals who can help you without ever knowing your
  name or seeing your face. They can often give you a referral to a
  mental health professional you can follow up with in your area.
  
• Crisis hotlines. These help survivors of rape,
  violence, and other traumas, Some may also provide short-term
  counseling. To find one, do an online search for your state and "crisis
  hotline."
  

Other cost-effective ways to help you work through crisis situations are:

• Emergency rooms. Emergency rooms are required to
  evaluate and care for people who have emotional emergencies as well as
  physical ones. If you think you might hurt yourself or someone else, you
  can also call 911.
  
• Local crisis centers. Some states have walk-in
  crisis centers for people coping with mental health problems, abuse, or
  sexual assault. They're a bit like ERs for people who are having an
  emotional crisis.
  
  Each county and state does things differently. A few might not have
  crisis centers. Others may have mobile units that come to you in an
  emergency. Some crisis centers operate in hospitals, others are run by
  non-profits or county mental health services. To see if there's a crisis
  center near you, search online for your city, county, or state and
  terms like "crisis center," "crisis counseling center," "psychiatric
  emergency services," or "crisis intervention."
  

If you need help finding any kind of services, contact your state's mental health association or psychological association to find out where you can get therapy and treatment near you.
(Note: By clicking either of these links, you will be leaving the TeensHealth site.)Prescriptions



Paying for prescriptions can really drain your wallet. Here are some ways to be smart about the money you spend on medicines:

• Find out if you can take generic or non-brand medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are over-the-counter versions of the same kinds of prescription medications.
  
• Find out about prescription assistance programs
  (also called "patient assistance programs"). The Partnership for
  Prescription Association gives free or low-cost prescriptions to people
  who qualify based on income. Visit their website to learn more.
  
• Compare prices at local pharmacies. Call each to ask what they're charging for your prescriptions.
  
• Contact the pharmaceutical company that makes the medication. All the big pharmaceutical companies have prescription assistance numbers you can call for help.
  
• Beware of free prescription samples (or coupons and rebates).
  They sound appealing, but they are often for expensive, name-brand
  medications. That's fine while the samples last. But since doctors don't
  like to change a medication if it's working, you could get stuck paying
  full price after the samples run out.
  
  Before accepting a free sample, talk to your doctor about whether you
  can afford that medication in the long term. If it's something you'll
  only need for as long as the samples last, take advantage of the
  freebie!
  

If you're already taking medication, there are two things to know:

1. Never stop taking a prescribed medication or reduce your dosage because you can't afford to fill the prescription. Some medications can cause side effects if they're adjusted or stopped without a doctor's advice.
   
2. Never use someone else's medicine. Even if the person has the same health condition you do, medications work differently for different people.
   

If you can't afford to refill a prescription, call the prescribing doctor.
Say you're having a hard time affording your meds and need some advice.
It's not unusual these days for people to ask for this kind of help,
and doctor's offices often know how to get it or put you in touch with
someone who can.

Parents and Other Adults



Navigating your way through the health care system can be confusing
(even for adults). That's why it's a good idea to have a parent,
relative, doctor, school counselor, or social worker help you connect
with a mental health professional.

But what if you want to get counseling without a parent (or guardian) knowing?
In many states, teens can be given mental health treatment without
parental consent. When you call a clinic, hospital, or therapist, ask
about your state's rules on parental consent for mental health services.
And, when you see a counselor, find out about the rules when it comes
to filling a prescription. Even if you can get confidential care, your
parents may need to give the OK to fill prescriptions.

Whatever happens, don't let money hold you back from getting help.
Affordable mental health care options are out there — it may just take
some time and effort to find them. But don't give up. Stress and mental
health problems don't usually get better on their own.