The Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) is located in the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). DSAMH serves the adult (age 18 and older) population in need of publicly funded behavioral health services. DSAMH is organized into three operating units. These are the Delaware Psychiatric Center (DPC) and a variety of community-based Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs.
Our mission is to promote health and recovery by ensuring that Delawareans have access to quality prevention and treatment for mental health, substance use, and gambling conditions.
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Services Offered
Community Mental Health and Addictions Services
Operates Delaware Psychiatric Center, Delaware's only public state-operated psychiatric hospital for adults, providing acute care to adults experiencing severe behavioral symptoms.
Provides community support services to adults living with, and in recovery from, psychiatric illness through two state-operated community mental health centers (CMHCs), New Castle County CMHC and Kent/Sussex CMHC, and through contracts with private provider agencies. Services such as case management, counseling, employment support and crisis services are provided through Assertive Community Treatment teams, supportive housing and services, and clinic-based care.
Operates 24-hour mobile crisis intervention services statewide, from two locations, one in Ellendale (serving Sussex and southern Kent Counties) and one in New Castle (serving Greater Smyrna and all of New Castle County).
Crisis Intervention
The Division offers a continuum of Crisis Intervention Services. These services are located throughout the State in the Crisis Intervention Service Centers, the Community Mental Health Centers, the Recovery Response Center and Emergency Rooms. Crisis Intervention Service (CIS) staff are available 24 hours a day to assist people, 18 years and older, with severe personal, family or marital problems. These problems may include depression, major life changes such as unemployment or loss of an important relationship, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, thoughts of suicide, delusions, paranoia and substance abuse.
Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health provides: community mental health treatment, counseling and support services; supported housing services that promote independent living and community integration; mobile crisis intervention services; inpatient psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis and treatment; substance abuse treatment and prevention services; assessment and case management services for clients sentenced by the Drug Court; and problem gambling services.
Fees and Payment
We accept Medicare / Medicaid program and assistance.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
Online Counseling: Yes
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Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.