Eaton County Substance Abuse Advisory Group

Compiled January 2011 by Suicide Prevention Eaton County

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction

• How to Access Mental Health Services

• Crisis Prevention Resources

• Veterans and Their Families

• Mental Health Therapists

• Mental Health Clinics

• What is an Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment?

• Local Psychiatric Assessment and Treatment Services

• Local Grief Support Groups

• Online Mental Health Resources

• Substance Abuse Assessment Services

Eaton County Mental Health
Resource Directory

This directory
available in PDF

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Eaton County Mental Health Resource Directory. In this directory you will find programs, services and providers available to assist individuals and families dealing with mental health issues.

The Eaton County Mental Health Resources Directory was compiled by the Suicide Prevention of Eaton County (SPEC) coalition which was formed in 2009 as a sub-committee of the Eaton County Substance Abuse Advisory Group (ECSAAG). The purpose of the SPEC is to reduce the incidence of depression, suicide attempts, and eliminate deaths due to suicide in Eaton County. SPEC includes representatives from community agencies, the local schools, Friends of Chrystal, Barry-Eaton District Health Department, Eaton County Counseling Center, Eaton Intermediate School District, churches and Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, as well as private providers who provide both direct and supportive services to children and families with mental health issues.

The information provided is intended for referral purposes only. SPEC does not guarantee the information concerning any provider nor do we license, endorse, or recommend any particular mental health care provider. Only you can determine whether the quality of care is appropriate for your need. The information included in this directory was supplied by the entities included in the listing; it is by no means comprehensive. Understand also that inclusion or omission of particular professionals, businesses, organizations, or services does not imply a recommendation, or lack thereof, by SPEC. Questions about a specific program or agency should be directed to the organization.

Printing was made possible through an Eaton County United Way grant.

If you are a provider and would like to be included in any future updates of this directory, please contact Sara Lurie at slurie@eatonisd.org or 517-541-8711.

How to Access Mental Health Services Through Your Employer or Insurance Health Plan (Table of Contents)

Ask if your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program. Check with your Human Resources Department to see if your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAPs offer confidential help to employees and/or their immediate family members in dealing with personal problems. If needed, your EAP Counselor will help you access your health insurance benefits and connect you to professionals that offer more specialized care.
Look on the back of your insurance card for a customer service number. Usually this is a 1-800 number. The person whom the insurance is under should call. Information generally will not be given out to anyone else.
Ask to speak with Customer Service. You may have to provide your insurance number, or other information to identify yourself, such as your (the primary cardholder’s) address, ZIP code, phone number or social security number.
Ask that the representative tell you exactly what type of plan you have. For example, some individuals have Blue Cross Blue Shield, but the plan type may vary from person to person and from employer to employer (e.g., Community Blue, Blue Care Network, etc.).
Ask what your mental health benefits and what your co-pays are. Often carriers will pay a certain percentage, leaving you to pay the rest up front at the time of service (the co-pay). Also, different plans allow different amounts of service (# of sessions) per year, or there may be a deductible to be met out of pocket before the benefit will be covered.
Ask what services are covered, and what you need to do in order for them to be covered. As with physical health coverage, mental health coverage often requires a referral from an identified professional, or will cover certain facilities instead of others. Be sure to ask: Do you need to be referred by your general practitioner (e.g., medical doctor) for mental health services are covered? Does your carrier cover individual therapy? How many sessions? Do they cover emergency hospital stays or emergency mental health assessments (such as crisis services)? What facilities are covered?

Ask who are the Preferred Providers or In-Network providers. Some insurance plans will only cover certain professionals who have gone through a process to be registered with that particular insurance company or insurance plan. Some insurance plans have “preferred providers,” or “in-network” professionals, who have gone through this process and are registered, for whom the insurance company will cover more of the cost. They may also have “out-of-network” professionals, who are not registered with the insurance company. You may have to pay more out of pocket to see these individuals.
Ask for a list of these professionals. Ask the insurance company to send you a list by mail, or help you navigate their website to find an online list. Asking the customer service rep to do this with you while you are on the phone with them can be helpful.
When you receive the list and choose a service provider, always call them directly and ask if they still take your insurance prior to setting up an appointment. Sometimes online lists of professionals covered by an insurance company are not up-to-date. The provider will know if they are still working with your insurance company.
Ask your provider what the co-pay is; if it is more than you can afford, ask your provider if they offer their fee on a “sliding scale” or a “time of service fee.”
Don’t give up! Be persistent. If you need assistance at any point, ask for help.

(Cont.)