How To Get Affordable State Sponsored Therapy in Utah
Many people don’t realize that publicly-funded mental health services are available in their state. People looking for free or low-cost counseling often think their only options are counselors in private practice and don’t know that publicly-funded providers in their communities may also offer counseling services.
While state-based programs are not for everyone, they’re often a great place to start for people who face geographic or financial barriers to therapy. Intake specialists at community mental health programs can help people learn whether they qualify for state-funded services and can refer people who don’t qualify to other low-cost programs that may be able to meet their needs.
On This Page
- When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
- Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Utah?
- How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Utah?
- Northern Utah Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Wasatch Front Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Eastern Utah Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Central and Southern Utah Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- How Does Utah's Public Mental Health System Work?
When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
Few private mental health providers are able to immediately serve people in crisis, while most state mental health systems, including Utah’s, have crisis response systems that help people get mental health care quickly in an emergency. This usually makes public mental health services the best option if you’re in crisis and need help right away. The people who answer crisis lines can provide caring attention and support as they help you determine the best response to a crisis, whether it’s inpatient treatment or an appointment with a counselor.
In Utah, regional organizations called Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) oversee state-funded mental health and substance abuse services. Some LMHAs provide services directly, while others contract with local nonprofit providers. In addition to affordable therapy, LMHAs and contract providers offer specialized and intensive services that aren’t available anywhere else or that are hard to find in private clinics. Rural areas that have few other mental health resources are covered by LMHAs, which usually have at least one clinic in each of the counties they serve.
Consider seeking services at an LMHA if you need intensive treatment, live in a rural area, or can’t access mental health care in the private sector due to your diagnosis or financial situation.
Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Utah?
Utah doesn’t have strict statewide eligibility criteria for public mental health services. However, funding is limited and the public mental health system in Utah prioritizes people who have or are eligible for Medicaid and people who have Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) or Serious Mental Illness (SMI).
To meet SPMI or SMI criteria, you need to have a diagnosed or diagnosable mental health condition that significantly impacts your functioning and puts you at risk of hospitalization. The conditions that most frequently qualify as SMI or SPMI are psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and mood disorders like bipolar disorder and severe major depressive disorder.
Accessibility and availability of publicly-funded mental health services in Utah varies widely by region. Whether you need to have a severe mental health condition to access public mental health services depends on funding and availability at your local LMHA. In regions that contract with independent nonprofit programs, eligibility criteria may vary from program to program within the same service area.
Given the regional differences in Utah’s system, we recommend contacting your local program to ask about access to care even if you think you’re not eligible. Many LMHAs and nonprofits will provide free referrals to other providers if you don’t qualify for their services.
How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Utah?
The best way to find out about your local LMHA in Utah is to call the program directly. You can find out which LMHA serves your area using an online directory. The Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) maintains a directory of LMHAs on its website. Hope 4 Utah, the state’s suicide prevention program, also maintains a directory of Utah mental health agencies. For general information about the Utah public mental health system, you can contact the DSAMH central office at (801) 538-3939.
The number for the statewide mental health crisis line is the same as the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800-273-8255), but Utahns who call that number will be connected with local counselors and resources. Some LMHAs have their own region-specific crisis line as well. For your convenience, we have listed contact information for all Utah LMHAs, crisis lines, and contract mental health providers below.
Northern Utah Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Bear River Mental Health Services
- Serving Cache, Box Elder, and Rich Counties
- Main Number: (435) 752-0750
- Crisis Line: 988
- Outpatient Locations:
- Logan Office: (435) 752-0750
- Brigham City Office: (435) 734-9449
- Tremonton Office: (435) 257-2168
- Randolph Office: (800) 620-9949
- Garden City Office: (800) 620-9949
- Bear River Substance Abuse Services
- Serving Cache, Box Elder, and Rich Counties
- Main Number (Logan Office): (435) 792-6500
- Weber Human Services
- Serving Morgan and Weber Counties
- Main Number: (801) 625-3700
- Crisis Line: 988
- Office Location:
- Ogden Office: (801) 625-3700
- Davis Behavioral Health
- Serving Davis County
- Main Number and Crisis Line: (801) 773-7060
- Clinic Locations (Use Main Number for All Locations):
- Main Street Clinic (934 S Main Street, Layton)
- Layton Campus (2250 N 1700 W, Layton)
- Clearfield Office (129 S State Street, Suite 240, Clearfield)
- Women’s Recovery Center (2250 N 1700 W, Layton)
- Contracted Outpatient Mental Health Clinics:
- Catalyst Behavior Solutions (Layton): (801) 682-7147
- Northern Utah Counseling (Clearfield): (801) 779-0095
- Quassapaug Ventures (Kaysville): (801) 544-7413
Wasatch Front Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Wasatch Mental Health
- Serving Wasatch and Utah Counties
- Main Number (Utah County): (801) 373-4760
- Main Number (Wasatch County): (435) 654-3003
- Crisis Line (Utah and Wasatch Counties): 988
- Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
- Westpark Family Clinic (Provo): (801) 373-4760
- Provo Family Clinic (Provo): (801) 377-1213
- Mountain Peaks Counseling Clinic (Provo): (801) 960-1620
- Wasatch County Family Clinic (Heber): (435) 654-3003
- American Fork Family Clinic (American Fork): (801) 763-5010
- Payson Family Clinic (Payson): (801) 852-3805
- Utah County Department of Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment
- Serving Utah County
- Main Number (Provo Office): (801) 851-7128
- Healthy U Behavioral
- Serving Summit County
- Main Number: (833) 981-0212
- Crisis Line: (833) 995-1295
- Healthy U Behavioral Online Tools:
- Main Office Location:
- UNI Park City Clinic: (435) 658-5461
- Contracted Outpatient Mental Health Clinics:
- Davis Behavioral Health (Layton and Clearfield): (801) 773-7060
- Aloha Behavioral Consultants (Harrisville): (801) 399-1818
- Weber Human Services (Ogden): (801) 625-3700
- Wasatch Mental Health:
- Westpark Family Clinic (Provo): (801) 373-4760
- Provo Family Clinic (Provo): (801) 377-1213
- Mountain Peaks Counseling Clinic (Provo): (801) 960-1620
- Wasatch County Family Clinic (Heber): (435) 654-3003
- American Fork Family Clinic (American Fork): (801) 763-5010
- Payson Family Clinic (Payson): (801) 852-3805
- Salt Lake County Behavioral Health Services
- Serving Salt Lake County
- Main Number: (385) 468-4707
- Optum Medicaid Mental Health Helpline: (877) 370-8953
- Crisis Line: (801) 587-3000
- Warm Line: (801) 587-1055
- Adult Outpatient Mental Health Clinics in the Optum Medicaid Network:
- Ascendant Behavioral Health Clinics (Lehi, Murray, and Layton): (801) 872-5516
- Asian Association of Utah Refugee and Immigrant Center Community Wellness Services (Salt Lake City): (801) 990-9485
- Aspen Ridge Counseling Centers (Magna, Midvale, Sandy, Taylorsville, Tooele, West Jordan, and West Valley City): (801) 990-4300
- Bastian Counseling Services at Utah Pride Center (Salt Lake City): (801) 539-8800
- Center for Family Evaluation and Treatment (Taylorsville): (801) 265-3895
- Changes Counseling (Sandy): (801) 542-7060
- Child and Family Empowerment Services (Salt Lake City): (801) 972-2711 and (801) 972-2710
- Christian Counseling Centers of Utah (Salt Lake City, Midvale, Ogden, Sandy, and West Jordan): (801) 268-1564
- Clinical Consultants:
- West Jordan Office: (801) 233-8670
- Ogden Office: (801) 621-8670
- Compass Counseling and Consulting (Salt Lake City): (801) 639-9544
- The Family Support Center Counseling Program (Taylorsville): (801) 955-9110
- Family Support and Treatment Center (Orem): (801) 229-1181
- 4 Healing Center (Murray): (801) 266-4643
- Frontline Services Inc. (Murray): (801) 347-0749
- Hopeful Beginnings (West Valley City): (801) 979-1351
- Intermountain Specialized Abuse Treatment Center (West Valley City): (801) 886-8900
- Jewish Family Service Counseling Program (Salt Lake City): (801) 746-4334
- Jordan Valley Medical Center Outpatient Behavioral Health Unit (West Valley): (801) 964-3111
- Jordan West Family Counseling (West Jordan): (801) 566-0749
- LifeMatters Counseling and Health Center (West Valley City): (801) 313-0555
- The Lotus Center (Salt Lake City): (385) 272-4292
- Multicultural Counseling Center (West Jordan): (801) 915-0359 or (801) 915-0350
- Psychiatric Behavioral Solutions (Salt Lake City): (801) 467-1200
- Reach Counseling (South Jordan): (801) 446-3515
- Rise Behavioral and Mental Health Services (Salt Lake City): (801) 676-8935
- Sandy Counseling Centers (Sandy): (801) 944-1666
- South Point Counseling Services (South Jordan): (801) 302-3801
- Summit Community Counseling (Taylorsville, Heber City, and Orem): (801) 266-2485
- SunDance Behavioral Resources:
- Murray Office: (801) 264-9522
- Park City Office: (435) 252-1150
- Trauma Awareness and Treatment Center (Salt Lake City): (801) 263-6367
- Utah Behavior Services (Salt Lake City, Brigham City, Cedar City, Riverdale, Lehi, and St. George): (801) 255-5131
- Valley Behavioral Health:
- North Valley Outpatient Clinic (Salt Lake City): (888) 949-4864
- West Valley Outpatient Clinic (West Valley City): (888) 949-4864
- Volunteers of America Utah Adult Mental Health Services (Salt Lake City): (801) 355-2846 x0
- Volunteers of America Family Counseling Center (Murray): (801) 261-3500
- Valley Behavioral Health
- Serving Tooele County
- Main Number: (435) 843-3520
- Crisis Line: 988
- Outpatient Mental Health Location:
- Tooele Outpatient Clinic (Tooele): (435) 882-5600
- Contracted Outpatient Mental Health Clinics:
- Aspen Ridge Counseling Centers (Magna, Midvale, Sandy, Taylorsville, Tooele, West Jordan, and West Valley City): (801) 990-4300
- Silverado Counseling Services (South Salt Lake): (801) 983-5540
- Summit Community Counseling (Taylorsville, Heber City, and Orem): (801) 266-2485
- Sunset Counseling Services (Tooele): (435) 200-1134
Eastern Utah Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Northeastern Counseling Center
- Serving Uintah, Daggett, and Duschesne Counties
- Main Number: (435) 789-6300
- Crisis Line: 988
- After Hours Line (Vernal): (435) 828-8241
- After Hours Line (Roosevelt and Duchesne): (435) 823-6823
- Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
- Vernal Office: (435) 789-6300
- Roosevelt Office: (435) 725-6300
- Duchesne Office: (435) 738-5512
- Four Corners Community Behavioral Health
- Serving Carbon, Emery, and Grand Counties
- Main Number: (435) 637-7200
- Carbon County Daytime Crisis Line: (435) 637-2358 x5
- Carbon County After Hours Crisis Line: (435) 637-0893
- Emery County Daytime Crisis Line: (435) 381-2432
- Emery County After Hours Crisis Line: (435) 381-2404
- Grand County Daytime Crisis Line: (435) 259-6131 x0
- Grand County After Hours Crisis Line: (435) 259-8115
- Outpatient Mental Health Clinics:
- Price Clinic: (435) 637-2358
- Castle Dale Clinic: (435) 381-2432
- Moab Clinic: (435) 259-6131
Central and Southern Utah Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Central Utah Counseling Center
- Serving Sanpete, Sevier, Juab, Millard, Piute, and Wayne Counties
- Main Number: (435) 283-8400
- Crisis Line: (877) 469-2822
- Outpatient Mental Health Offices:
- Delta Office: (435) 864-3073
- Ephraim Office: (435) 283-4065
- Fillmore Office: (435) 743-5121
- Gunnison Office: (435) 283-4065
- Junction Office: (435) 896-8236
- Loa Office: (435) 896-8236
- Nephi Office: (435) 623-1456
- Richfield Office: (435) 896-8236
- Southwest Behavioral Health Center
- Serving Washington, Garfield, Iron, and Kane Counties
- Main Number: (435) 634-5600
- Crisis Line: (800) 574-6763 or (435) 414-4362
- Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
- Washington County (St. George): (435) 634-5600
- Iron County (Cedar City): (435) 867-7654
- Beaver County (Beaver and Milford): (435) 438-5537
- Garfield County (Panguitch and Escalante): (435) 676-8176
- Kane County (Kanab and Orderville): (435) 644-4520
- San Juan Counseling Center
- Serving San Juan County
- Main Number: (435) 678-2992
- Crisis Line: 988
- Clinic Location:
- Blanding Office: (435) 678-2992
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another option for public mental health care in Utah. These federally-funded programs provide medical and mental health services to people in underserved communities. Their goal is to deliver high-quality coordinated care to people with complex needs and to link behavioral healthcare with primary medical care. Each FQHC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers sliding-scale fees to people without insurance. You can search for FQHCs using the online search tool on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
How Does Utah's Public Mental Health System Work?
In the 1960s, Americans started thinking differently about how to treat mental health conditions. New laws required state and local governments to establish community mental health programs as alternatives to institutionalization for people with serious mental illness. The most important of these laws was the federal Community Mental Health Act, which President John F. Kennedy signed in 1963.
Utah was slightly behind the curve in responding to the new law. Its public mental health system focused on its lone state psychiatric hospital, the Utah State Hospital, until 1969, when it updated its policies to focus on alternatives to hospitalization and founded some of its first community-based programs. Utah had established a community-based mental health system by the 1970s.
Public mental health services in Utah are overseen on the state level by DSAMH. Each county or multi-county region in Utah operates its own local mental health authority. Some LMHAs provide services directly, while others contract with independent nonprofit providers to provide some or all state-funded mental health services. Utah currently has 13 LMHAs.
Utah has the highest rate of mental illness in the country. While altitude may play a role, stigma and limited state funding for mental health services also have an effect. The nationwide mental health professional shortage is particularly acute in Utah, and lack of access to mental health care means that many Utahns with mental illness end up incarcerated instead, languishing for months while waiting for a state hospital bed to become available. New laws and new private initiatives have been established to help improve the system and the mental health of Utah residents.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 45 percent of people in Utah who have mental health conditions get treatment for them. One reason for the care gap is that people aren’t aware of their options for affordable mental health care, including LMHAs and nonprofit clinics. You can help change these statistics by reaching out and using local mental health resources to get the care you need.