Listed below are some ways to find help. When you call, tell whomever you speak to that you are trying to find a mental-health provider who specializes in helping people who have been through traumatic events and/or who have lost loved ones.
For veterans
VA medical centers and Vet Centers provide veterans with mental-health services that health insurance will cover or that costs little or nothing, according to a veteran’s ability to pay. VA medical centers and Vet Centers are listed in the phone book in the blue Government pages. Under “United States Government Offices,” look in the section for “Veterans Affairs, Dept of.” In that section look for VA Medical Centers and Clinics listed under “Medical Care” and for “Vet Centers — Counseling and Guidance,” and call the one nearest to where you live. On the Internet, go to www.va.gov/ and look for the VHA Facilities Locator link under “Health Benefits and Services,” or go to www.va.gov/rcs.
For non-veterans
Some local mental-health services are listed in the phone book in the blue Government pages. In the “County Government Offices” section for the county where you live, look for a “Health Services (Dept. of)” or “Department of Health Services” section. In that section, look for listings under “Mental Health.” In the yellow pages, services and mental-health professionals are listed under “counseling,” “psychologists,” “social workers,” “psychotherapists,” “social and human services,” or “mental health.” Health insurance may pay for mental-health services and some are available at low cost according to your ability to pay.
For anyone
Call your doctor’s office or ask friends if they can recommend any mental-health providers.
If you work for a large company or organization, call the Human Resources or Personnel office to find out if they provide mental-health services or make referrals.
If you are a member of a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), call to find out if mental-health services are available.
Call the National Center for Victims of Crime’s toll-free information and referral service at 1-800-FYI-CALL. This is a comprehensive database of more than 6,700 community service agencies throughout the country that directly support victims of crime.
Contact your local mental-health agencies or family physician. The National Center has a fact sheet with information on talking to your primary care physician about trauma and PTSD.
Online Resources:
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America offers a referral network of professional therapists, as well as a self-help group network.
The National Institute of Mental Health Anxiety Disorders has published an extensive list of mental health organizations to help the consumer find more information about anxiety disorders and related issues, as well as to obtain referrals for specialists in different geographical areas.
Sidran offers a referral list of professional therapists, as well as a fact sheet on how to choose a therapist for PTSD and dissociative disorders.
The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) has a website with information on advocacy for those with mental illness, including affiliates who provide family support groups in different states.
About.com’s trauma resource page offers a comprehensive listing of information, resources, links, and support groups on a wide array of topics related to trauma, particularly incest and child abuse.
Facts for health offers a referral database for clinicians based on clinicians who have completed a continuing education course on PTSD or clinicians who have been identified by the directors of the Madison Institute of Medicine as being specialists in PTSD.
The holistic health yellow pages offer a referral network of holistic practitioners.
National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
