Page 22 - Vision Manual

Getting Your Needs Met in the Mental Health System
Getting your needs met by the various governmental and community mental health systems can be a significant challenge. There are numerous barriers to overcome including knowing who to talk to, knowing what kinds of services might be available, combating stigma that comes from others when trying to get needs met, having the ability and skills to communicate with a mental health provider, financial barriers, and scarce resources are just a few of these. Every person has different needs, and so no one approach is going to work for everyone. This section is meant to provide information about the available services that you might be able to make use of, guidelines for communicating with providers, and how to address scarce resources.
Questions: What makes it hard for you to access mental health services? What services do you currently access? What has helped you to be successful?
Getting Started with Accessing Mental Health Services
The first step in accessing mental health services is knowing who to call. Oftentimes this can be confusing, because the system isn’t always designed for someone to get themselves help without going through some different tasks. There are a variety of different access points, a few of which are suggested here. One of the first things you can do to attain help is to access mental health case management services. Oftentimes case management is offered through the county, and is also offered by a number of different agencies. Contacting your county can be a challenge and so you might need assistance from a counselor, therapist, friend or family member. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in finding this resource. You might also consider contacting a community mental health center for help with case management. Community mental health centers are a source of outpatient services and are either run by the county, by a nonprofit group, or by a private agency. They often provide a wide array of services. You can find these by using the internet, or contacting your insurance company through the number on your card. Community Support Programs, or CSPs are another resource that can provide a place to go and socialize, case management, activities, and education.
Questions: How have you accessed services in the past? What has been helpful for you in getting access to community mental health services?
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