Mental Health
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. And just like you sometimes need physical health care, sometimes you need extra support to take care of your mental health too.
Mental health problems are common and treatable. Learn how to get the care you need or how to support the people around you.
- Find a list of Washington State-certified mental health providers in Whatcom County. State-certified providers can treat people with serious mental illnesses.
- Find a list of therapists in private practice in Whatcom County and the insurance plans they accept.
- Accessing Behavioral Health Resources.
- If you don’t have private insurance, you may be eligible for coverage through Medicaid, also known as Apple Health. Find out how to enroll through Washington HealthPlan Finder.
- Get tips on how to talk about mental health with someone you care about.
Finding Mental Health Care
Start by contacting the mental health providers of your choice, and select a provider you want to work with. These may be options for your care:
- Counseling, medications, and other mental health care may be covered by your private insurance.
- Talk with the provider you choose to find out if they accept your insurance plan, and ask them to help you figure out the costs of any co-payments you are responsible for.
- Schedule an evaluation appointment with the provider. During the evaluation, they will learn about your history and living conditions. If you are diagnosed with a mental health condition, they will recommend a course of treatment for you to follow.
Low-Income Options
If you don’t have private insurance coverage for mental health care, there are still options for you. You may be eligible for Medicaid (also called Apple Health) or other programs that can help cover the costs of mental health treatment. Learn more at Washington HealthPlan Finder.
Crisis Services
Immediate help is available during a mental health crisis, by phone, text, online chat, or in-person:
- Crisis Line (Volunteers of America): 800-584-3578
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8225
- Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255, press 1
- Washington Recovery Helpline: 866-789-1511
- Whatcom County Crisis Stabilization Facility: 360-676-2020
Learn More About Mental Health
Mental health affects how you think, feel, and act. It affects how you make choice, relate to others, and handle stress. During your lifetime, you or someone close to you might experience mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or substance use disorder order.
These resources can help you learn more.
- Mental Health
- American Psychiatric Association
- Mental Health America
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
Talking to a Loved One About Their Mental Health
Support from friends and family can make a big difference for someone with a mental health disorder. Talking to a loved one is a chance to provide information, support, and guidance. If a friend or family member is reaching out to you for help or showing signs of a mental health problem, you can:
- Ask questions, listen to ideas, and be responsive when the topic of mental health problems comes up.
- Express your concern and support.
- Find out if they are getting the care they need.
- Offer to help with everyday tasks.
- Reassure your loved that you care about them.
Get more tips for talking about mental health.
Fighting the Stigma
People with serious disorders, such as mental illnesses, are often viewed negatively by others because they may appear to think and act differently. Mental illness can cause difficulties with trust, anxiety, hallucinations, and other symptoms.
But 1 in 5 people experience mental health illness every year. And people with serious mental illnesses deserve understanding, kindness, and respect in same way as any other person with a serious illness. Learn ways that you can help fight mental health stigma.
Our Role
We partner with local agencies to fill the gaps in our community’s behavioral health service system with the goal of making behavioral health care more available for everyone in our community who needs it.
We don’t provide treatment, but where state and federal funds don’t pay for behavioral health care – particularly for people without insurance – we help make sure services are provided.