Finding Mental Health Care
Finding Mental Health Care
While I hope you will reach out to me if you think we might be a good fit, I also understand that I am limited in the number of patients I can see and that there may be geographic, availability, and financial barriers to working with me. Below are some tips that might help you in your search for care.
Mental health emergencies can be just as serious as a broken bone or heart attack. If you are having a mental health emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. Through the ED you will have immediate access to trained professional who can help you determine what care you need. Some states/regions also have 24/7 mental health crisis teams. In Boston you can contact the Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST) at 1-800-981-4357.
The best thing you can do is establish care with a primary care doctor. PCPs are the gatekeepers to care in most insurance companies and healthcare networks. In Boston, nearly all psychiatry departments require you to have your primary care doctor within their hospital network to be able to access mental health care, so one option would be to call the primary care department of your local hospital or community clinic to enter their practice.
Most common mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD, are within the scope of what primary care doctors handle. In fact, the majority of psychiatric medications prescribed in the US are prescribed by PCPs. If you are struggling with a mental health issue, booking a visit with your PCP can often get you the fastest access to care. Your existing doctor may be the only person you need, and if not most offices are able to refer you to mental health professionals, particularly if the office is affiliated with a larger healthcare network such as a hospital.
Unfortunately not all primary care practices are linked with mental health care, in which case it may be on you to find a mental health specialist. Your insurance company should have a list of in-network providers on their website or available if you call the number on the back of your card. In-network care will generally be the most affordable, but unfortunately the lists maintained by insurance companies are often inaccurate, with one group of researchers able to book appointments with only 26% of doctors on one company's list (rates were even lower for child psychiatrists). Unfortunately there is often no shortcut to getting on the phone and calling a lot of numbers. Other sources that may be helpful can be your company's employee assistance program, if available, and online directories of health professionals, such as Psychology Today and Zocdoc.
There are numerous types of mental health professionals, including psychiatrists (medical doctors who undergo at least 4 years of additional training after medical school), psychologists (who hold doctoral degrees in psychology), social workers, and others. See guides from Harvard and Mayo Clinic for more details.