Resources and Help

**Also visit our links page.**

1) If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, call 911 or your local emergency room, physician on call.

     Another option is to call the National Suicide and Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

2) If you are not in crisis, but need someone to talk to, call the Montana Warm Line - 1-877-688-3377.  The Warm Line is open from 4-10 pm Monday through Friday and from 1-10 pm Saturday and Sunday.

3) For Montana Veterans: The Montana Office of Veterans' Affairs has field officers available to help you find the services you need.  Go to http://dma.mt.gov/mvad/ . 

For information from the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, go to http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/

4) FREE SCREENINGS (confidential)

Bipolar Disorder Screening (Goldberg Bipolar Spectrum Screening Questionnaire)

Depression Screening Test-1 (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - QIDS)

Depression Screening Test-2 (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale - CES-D)

Eating Disorders Screening (Eating Attitudes Test)

Panic Disorder/Anxiety Screening

5) Find a therapist

                                                   Visit the Montana Mental Health Professionals Directory

or

6) Montana Mental Health (and other related services) Facilities Locator  or 2-1-1 in some counties.  Or www.montana211.org

7) If you have no personal insurance or mental health professional relationship, contact the Community Mental Health Center nearest you:

     Billings, South Central Montana Mental Health Center     (406) 252-5658 or (800) 266-7198

     Bozeman, Gallatin Mental Health Center     (406) 522-7357     

     Great Falls, Center for Mental Health     (406) 761-2100 or (888) 718-2100     www.center4mh.org

     Helena, Center for Mental Health     (406) 443-7151     www.center4mh.org

     Lewistown, South Central Montana Mental Health Center     (406) 538-7483    

     Livingston Community Mental Health Center  (406) 222-3332 

     Miles City, Eastern Montana Mental Health Center    (406) 234-0234 or  (800) 597-6606

     Missoula, Western Montana Mental Health Center     (406) 728-6870    

8) If you have questions about the Medicare Prescription Drug Program, visit our Medicare Prescription Drug Program page.

9) If you have a problem with a legal issue, contact the Disability Rights (formerly called the Montana Advocacy Program) toll-free at 800-245-4742 or (406) 449-2344. Website: www.mtadv.org.

10) For information on access to health care, contact the Mental Health Ombudsman's Office at toll-free 888-444-9669 or (406) 444-9669. Services include the representation of persons in need of mental health services, helping individuals access needed care, exploring treatment options and barriers to care, including working with persons in the criminal justice system who need mental health services while incarcerated or upon release.

11) If you or someone you know has not received adequate care and treatment in one of Montana's in-patient facilities, phone the Board of Visitors at (406) 444-3995.

12) Mental Health America of Montana also has resource and educational information on a wide array of mental health and mental illness issues. These brochures are available at no charge.

13) Mental Health America of Montana also has Affiliates for local resources.

14) New resources for strengthening mental health-child welfare collaboration:

Research 

The Mental Health of Vulnerable Youth and Their Transition to Adulthood: Examining the Role of the Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, and Runaway/Homeless Systems (PDF)

This study focused on research questions related to the subject of how the mental health of youth affects their experience as they transition to adulthood, and if contact with one or more service systems affects the outcomes of youth as they transition to adulthood.

Resources

Mental Health Screening and Assessment Tools for Children: Literature Review (PDF)

Northern California Training Academy (2008)

This report provides a review of tools used to screen and/or assess mental health and social-emotional functioning in children, with a focus on the child welfare context.

Mental Health Needs of Foster Children and Children At-Risk for Removal (PDF)

Child Protective Services Unit, Virginia Department of Social Services (2009)

This issue of Virginia Child Protection Newsletter focuses on the mental health needs of children entering foster care and children at risk to enter care, evidence-based practices to address those needs, and methods for parent and foster parent training.

The Importance of Family Engagement in Child Welfare Services (PDF)
Northern California Training Academy (2009)
This report identifies characteristics of children and families associated with effective engagement, including discussions of substance abuse, mental illness, interpersonal violence, poverty, social problems, and cultural differences.

Mental Health Practices in Child Welfare Guidelines Toolkit (PDF)

The REACH Institute, Casey Family Programs, and Annie E. Casey Foundation (2009)
Toolkit provides tips, tools, and resources for integrating and sustaining guidelines within settings that serve children in child welfare, presented in five categories: mental health screening/assessment, psychosocial interventions; psychopharmacological interventions; parent engagement and support; and youth empowerment and support.

For more help finding treatment, support groups, medication information, help paying for your medications, and other mental health-related services in your community, please click here to access Mental Health America's Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/faqs/). 

Additional information is available by phoning Mental Health America of Montana at (877) 927-6642.